Sydney FC has shattered Newcastle\u2019s dream of a domestic treble, beating the Jets 4-2 in a penalty shootout on Saturday night to book an A-League grand final date with Auckland FC.<\/p>\n
Ben Garuccio scored the decisive penalty at McDonald Jones Stadium after Newcastle pair Kosta Grozos and Xavier Bertoncello had their spot kicks saved by Sydney goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares.<\/p>\n
Sydney star Joe Lolley also had his penalty saved by Jets gloveman James Delianov, but in the end it didn\u2019t matter, with the Sky Blues prevailing to break Newcastle hearts.<\/p>\n
Earlier, aggregate scores had finished 2-2 after 1-1 draws in each of the semi-final legs.<\/p>\n
The second-leg was broken open in the 64th minute when Sydney\u2019s Peruvian playmaker Piero Quispe netted from close range after the ball was parried into his path by Newcastle keeper Delianov, who perhaps should have done better with his save from an Akol Akon shot.<\/p>\n
Try as they minute, the Jets seemed destined to fail in their bid to finds an equaliser.<\/p>\n
However, in the sixth minute of stoppage-time, Eli Adams sent the home fans into a frenzy with a superb first-time finish from a Daniel Wilmering cross to level scores on the night and across the two legs.<\/p>\n
But the Sky Blues regrouped and held their nerve when it mattered in the shootout.<\/p>\n
The Sky Blues, who finished fifth on the ladder, will now travel to New Zealand to take on Auckland in next Saturday night\u2019s decider at Go Media Stadium.<\/p>\n
Coached by former Sydney mentor Steve Corica, the Black Knights \u2013 who finished third on the table \u2013 grabbed their grand-final berth with a 4-1 aggregate semi-final win over Adelaide United.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u2019s shootout success over Newcastle extended the Sky Blues\u2019 unbeaten record under coach Patrick Kisnorbo, who took over in March from Ufuk Talay.<\/p>\n
It was also\u00a0a victory that ended the Jets\u2019 hopes of adding the championship to the premiership and Australia Cup success they had already tasted this season.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Sydney had a chance in just the second minute, when defender Alexandar Popovic got his head to a Garuccio free-kick.<\/p>\n
However, much to the Jets\u2019 relief, the header flew wide of the post.<\/p>\n
The Jets blew a great opportunity to go ahead in the 24th minute when returning striker Lachlan Rose failed to connect after being fed a dangerous pass across the face of Sydney\u2019s goal by Clayton Taylor.<\/p>\n
Three minutes later a brilliant half-volley from Taylor went agonisingly wide for the hosts.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u2019s best chance of the first-half came in the 33rd minute when playmaker Tiago Quintal dispossessed Jets defender Mark Natta,<\/p>\n
However, with only Jets keeper Delianov to beat, Quintal directed his angled strike straight at the grateful custodian.<\/p>\n
The Jets started the second-half with great intent, with Adams, Rose and Lachlan Bayliss also having chances, but failing to make the most of them.<\/p>\n
Sydney responded when ex-Newcastle marksman Apostolos Stamatelopoulos seemed certain to score in the 53rd minute after outpacing and outmuscling Natta, but his attempt to dink the ball over Delianov failed to clear the Jets keeper.<\/p>\n
No start for Lolley <\/p>\n
Sydney FC coach Patrick Kisnorbo again elected to leave English star Lolley out of the Sky Blues\u2019 starting line-up.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s ready to go, and we\u2019re grateful for that,\u201d Kisnorbo said of Lolley, who came off the bench last weekend in his long-awaited return from an ankle injury.<\/p>\n
The former Nottingham Forest winger finally entered the contest in the seventh-minute of extra-time.<\/p>\n
Jets coach Mark Milligan made one change to the team that started in the first-leg, with fit-again striker Rose, who missed Newcastle\u2019s previous two games with a calf injury, included at the expense of Ben Gibson.<\/p>\n