Sydney FC won the 2023 Australia Cup after they had came from behind to beat Brisbane Roar 3-1 in last Saturday night’s final at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney. Substitute Fabio Gomes pulled off a superb performance as he scored two goals to help the Sky Blues to their first silverware in three years.
This year’s Australia Cup final was initially set to be played at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, however irrigation works at the venue meant that the hosting rights was swapped with opponents Sydney.
With Sydney gunning for their second Australia Cup title, it was final debutants Brisbane who struck first, with 18-year old Thomas Waddingham tucked in a Henry Hore pass into Andrew Redmayne’s goal. Waddingham had been one of the standout stars of this year’s Australia Cup, scoring four times in his five cup starts for the Roar.
Sydney were left frustrated as Brisbane easily picked the Sky Blues defense apart throughout the match, with only the Roar’s poor finishing preventing them from asserting a commanding lead.
The turning point of the match came in the 68th minute, with Hore turning from hero to villain for Brisbane after he had handled the ball within the penalty area.
Gomes, who had just came in as substitute replacing Patrick Wood, was tasked in taking the ensuing penalty and made no mistake whatsoever, beating Macklin Freke in the Brisbane goal to draw the game level.
The equalizer galvanized Sydney and four minutes later the Sky Blues took the lead through Robert Mak. Gomes then struck again in the 91st minute, tapping-in the deciding goal that clinched not only the win, but Sydney’s second Australia Cup title.