2018 A-League finals series

The 2018 A-League finals series was the 13th annual edition of the A-League finals series, the playoffs tournament staged to determine the champion of the 2018–19 A-League season. The series was played over three weeks culminating in the 2018 A-League Grand Final, where Melbourne Victory won a fourth championship 1–0 against Newcastle Jets.

A-League finals series
Season2017–18
Dates3–19 May 2019
ChampionsMelbourne Victory FC
Matches played5
Goals scored14 (2.8 per match)
Biggest home winMelbourne City 2–0 Brisbane Roar
(Elimination Finals, 20 April 2018)
Biggest away winSydney FC 2–3 Melbourne Victory
(Semi Final, 28 April 2018)
Newcastle Jets 0–1 Melbourne Victory
(Grand Final, 5 May 2018)
Highest scoringSydney FC 2–3 Melbourne Victory
(Semi Final, 28 April 2018)
Highest attendance29,410
Newcastle Jets 0–1 Melbourne Victory
(Grand Final, 5 May 2018)
Lowest attendance7,757
Melbourne City 2–0 Brisbane Roar}}
(Elimination Finals, 20 April 2018)
Total attendance89,575
Average attendance17,915
2017
2019
All statistics correct as of 17 August 2024.

Qualification

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Sydney FC 27 20 4 3 64 22 +42 64 Qualification for 2019 AFC Champions League group stage and Finals series
2 Newcastle Jets 27 15 5 7 57 37 +20 50 Qualification for 2019 AFC Champions League second preliminary round and Finals series
3 Melbourne City 27 13 4 10 41 33 +8 43 Qualification for Finals series
4 Melbourne Victory (C) 27 12 5 10 43 37 +6 41 Qualification for 2019 AFC Champions League group stage and Finals series
5 Adelaide United 27 11 6 10 36 38 −2 39 Qualification for Finals series
6 Brisbane Roar 27 10 5 12 33 40 −7 35
7 Western Sydney Wanderers 27 8 9 10 38 47 −9 33
8 Perth Glory 27 10 2 15 37 50 −13 32
9 Wellington Phoenix[a] 27 5 6 16 31 55 −24 21
10 Central Coast Mariners 27 4 8 15 28 49 −21 20
Source: A-Leagues
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ^ Wellington Phoenix cannot qualify for the AFC Champions League as they are not recognised as an AFC club.


Venues

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Newcastle
McDonald Jones Stadium
Capacity: 30,000
 
Sydney Melbourne
Allianz Stadium AAMI Park
Capacity: 45,000 Capacity: 30,050
   

Matches

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The system used for the 2019 A-League finals series is the modified top-six play-offs by the A-Leagues. The top two teams enter the two-legged semi-finals receiving the bye for the elimination-finals in which the teams from third placed to sixth place enter the elimination-finals with "third against sixth" and "fourth against fifth". Losers for the elimination-finals are eliminated, and winners qualify for the semi-finals.

First placed team in the semi-finals plays the lowest ranked elimination-final winning team and second placed team in the semi-finals plays the highest ranked elimination-final winner. Home advantage goes to the team with the higher ladder position.[1]

Elimination-finals Semi-finals Grand Final
Sydney FC 2
Melbourne Victory 2 Melbourne Victory (a.e.t.) 3
Adelaide United 1 Newcastle Jets 0
Melbourne Victory 1
Newcastle Jets 2
Melbourne City 2 Melbourne City 1
Brisbane Roar 0

Elimination Finals

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The first elimination final took place on 20 April 2018 between third placed Melbourne City and sixth placed Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park in Melbourne. Melbourne City would win 2–0 with goals from Stefan Mauk in the 59th minute and Nick Fitzgerald in the 90+1st minute.[1]

20 April 2018 Elimination Final Melbourne City 2−0Brisbane RoarMelbourne
19:50 AEST
Report Stadium: AAMI Park
Attendance: 7,757
Referee: Jarred Gillett

The second elimination final was played on 22 April 2018 between Melbourne Victory who placed fourth and Adelaide United who placed fifth at AAMI Park. Before this during The 2017–18 regular season Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United met three times, each team won one game each and had a draw.[2][3] Adelaide would open the score line with a goal in the 57th minute by Nikola Mileusnic. Victory then came back with a goal in the 63rd minute by Leroy George and a final goal by Besart Berisha in the 89th minute to seal the win for Victory.[4]

22 April 2018 Elimination Final Melbourne Victory 2−1Adelaide UnitedMelbourne
18:00 AEST
Report
Stadium: AAMI Park
Attendance: 15,502
Referee: Chris Beath

Semi-finals

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The first semi final took place between Newcastle Jets and Melbourne City on 27 April 2018 at McDonald Jones Stadium. an early own-goal in the 13th minute for Melbourne City by Nikolai Topor-Stanley. Newcastle jets would come back with a stunner scorpion kick by Riley McGree in the 56th minute and a 74th minute winner by Jason Hoffman. Newcastle's win would confirm them to their second grand final in their history and their first since 2008.

27 April 2018 Semi Final Newcastle Jets 2−1Melbourne CityNewcastle
19:50 AEST
Report
Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium
Attendance: 19,131
Referee: Shaun Evans

Sydney FC would play Melbourne Victory on 28 April 2018 at Allianz Stadium. Stefan Nigro would score an own goal in the 24th minute. Victory would come back with a goal in the 31st minute by Kosta Barbarouses and another goal in the 47th minute by James Troisi. In the 90+5th minute Terry Antonis scored an own goal to make the game 2-2. The game would go to extra time and in the 117th minute Terry Antonis would redeem himself by scoring the winner for Melbourne Victory to qualify for the grand final.[2]

28 April 2018 Semi FinalSydney FC2–3 (a.e.t.) Melbourne Victory Sydney
19:50 AEST
Report
Stadium: Allianz Stadium
Attendance: 17,775
Referee: Kurt Ams

Grand Final

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The 2018 A-League Grand Final was the thirteenth A-League Grand Final, played on 5 May 2018. The match took place at McDonald Jones Stadium, with Newcastle Jets hosting Melbourne Victory, the first A-League grand final held outside a metropolitan city.[5][6]

Kosta Barbarouses scored the only goal of the game, in the 9th minute. It was a controversial goal, as replays showed that there was an offside offence in the lead up to the goal, but the Video Assistant Referee system had gone down for technical reasons and the goal was allowed to stand. This was the only goal of the night and Melbourne Victory would win their fourth a-league championship.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Hyundai A-League 2018 Finals Series schedule confirmed | My Football". www.myfootball.com.au. 2018-04-10. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
  2. ^ a b Kalinic, Dejan (19 April 2018). "Preview: Elimination Final v Adelaide". Melbourne Victory. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
  3. ^ Staff, KEEPUP (22 April 2018). "Key stats ahead of Victory v Adelaide Elimination Final". A-Leagues. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
  4. ^ Harrington, Anna (22 April 2018). "Besart Berisha answers his critics to win Victory's elimination final against Adelaide United". Fox Sports. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
  5. ^ Gardiner, James (2018-04-29). "Newcastle Jets to host A-League grand final after Victory stun Sydney FC". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  6. ^ "Sellout expected for Jets' historic home final against Victory". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2018-04-29. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
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