Allianz Stadium to host FFA Cup decider
Sydney FC will start warm favourites to win the FFA Cup after being handed home ground advantage for this year's final.
The Sky Blues will host Adelaide United at Allianz Stadium on Tuesday, November 21.
The A-League premiers and champions are looking to unite the three trophies on offer to Australia's professional clubs - and they'll have the weight of history behind them.
All three previous final hosts - United (2014), Melbourne Victory (2015) and Melbourne City (2016) - have won the knock-out competition.
Last year's final - won 1-0 by City against Sydney FC - was the only blemish in the Sky Blues' record-setting season.
Graham Arnold seethed at having to travel for the occasion but 12 months on gets another chance.
Club chief executive Danny Townsend is promising "a marvellous occasion".
"I encourage every Sydneysider and Sky Blue fan to make the effort to come out and give our boys their backing to win our third trophy this year and to hold all three domestic honours at once," he said.
FFA chief David Gallop said "a range of factors" came into the decision to award Sydney hosting rights.
"It is important that, where possible, the Westfield FFA Cup final is played in different locations around Australia to showcase the truly national nature of the competition," he said.
Gallop is hoping fans to turn out in force to break last year's attendance record of 18,751.
But Sydney's soccer-loving public might be hard-pressed to cough up for tickets, given the Socceroos will meet Honduras in a final World Cup qualifier at ANZ Stadium six days earlier.
