Sydney FC thrash Perth Glory to reach A-League Grand Final

Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Sydney FC are through to the A-League Grand Final after downing Perth 3-0 in a drama-filled semi at Allianz Stadium.

The Sky Blues' record-breaking season went on the line in front of 21,938 on Saturday night, and they didn't disappoint against a confident Glory side that couldn't quite match the class of the premiers.

The video assistant referee played a prominent role, overturning two disallowed goals to help Sydney to a 3-0 lead at half-time, a scoreline that proved more than enough to set up a May 7 season-decider against either Melbourne Victory or Brisbane.

Perth had the better of the opening 20 minutes, Rostyn Griffiths moving their hosts around in the midfield and making them work. Sydney weathered the early pressure that paid off via Josh Brillante's goal.

Seemingly out of nowhere, the midfielder took a settling touch off a Milos Ninkovic pass and fired an absolute belter from 30 metres that gave Liam Reddy no chance.

By half-time Sydney had tripled the lead, in controversial circumstances that sent tensions soaring on and off the pitch.

First, Buijs scored a 37th-minute stunner but the linesman's flag went up at Bobo, who was offside and appeared to impede Perth defender Dino Djulbic. Referee Peter Green sent the decision up for review and VAR Strebre Delovski allowed the goal to stand on the basis there was minimal interference.

Kenny Lowe was already fuming and Graham Arnold fist-pumping when the VAR rescued the Sky Blues again in first-half injury-time. This time Filip Holosko was ruled offside after heading in Sydney's third but Delovski correctly overruled.

Perth goalkeeper Liam Reddy then cleaned up Buijs but escaped without a booking.

After the break, Marc Warren nearly scored an own goal, Brosque forced a fine save from Reddy and Ibini was denied and hit the post on the rebound to end Perth's season.

Sydney will now host either Melbourne Victory or Brisbane at Allianz Stadium on May 7 in their first season-decider since 2010.

"Outstanding performance, especially on that pitch," Sydney coach Graham Arnold said. "I thought we could have had at least another four goals -- (Perth goalkeeper Liam) Reddy made a couple of good saves, we hit the post and the crossbar a couple of times.

"But it was just a totally dominant performance."

Perth coach Kenny Lowe erupted in rage when the VAR rescued the Sky Blues and, though, Arnold said both VAR calls were "wrong decisions made right," Lowe was less sure but felt the end result was entirely fair based on performance.

"I thought maybe on the second one there was a block, maybe the defender could have actually got in and made a tackle but Bobo blocked him off," Lowe said. "But that's what it's there for so you can't complain about it."