KEY POINTS:
Football Federation Australia bosses have got the A-League grand final they wanted, or at least the real hope of a record crowd at Melbourne's Telstra Dome.
In snatching a dramatic stoppage time 2-1 win over Adelaide United in the second leg of the second semifinal at the same ground - and in front of a record Hyundai A-League finals series crowd of 47,413 - the Melbourne Victory booked the short route to the February 18 final and with it the chance to pull more than 50,000 fans.
Ernie Merrick and his minor premiers will have to wait until after this Sunday's preliminary final between Adelaide United and Newcastle Jets at Adelaide's Hindmarsh Stadium to find out whether it will be the Victory against South Australia or New South Wales in the season's showpiece.
Since Central Coast Mariners failed to reach the play-offs this season and defending champions Sydney FC were eliminated at the first play-off hurdle by Newcastle, it will be a new-look final with Melbourne certain to start warm favourites.
Sydney's hope of a second final appearance ended in front of a record 24,338 fans at Newcastle's EnergyAustralia Stadium.
Travelling north with a 2-1 advantage after the first leg at Aussie Stadium, the Sydneysiders still held that advantage at halftime in the second leg.
Their hopes plunged when Joel Griffiths scored for the Jets in the 58th minute and ended in the 72nd when substitute Vaughan Coveny rammed home the killer blow for a 3-2 advantage on aggregate.
Sydney, who played the second half with 10 men after Alex Brosque had been sent off for a second yellow, will now focus on a first appearance in the Asian Champions League and with it the chance to play the Fifa Club World Cup in December.
After a scoreless draw in the first leg at home, coach John Kosmina took Adelaide United to Melbourne aware an away goal could prove vital. They were given that dream start when Travis Dodd scored after four minutes.
Realising that one goal would count double in a 1-1 draw, Adelaide battled on. Even when Victory's Danny Allsopp scored the 49th minute equaliser, Adelaide stayed in the box seat.
That joy remained until two minutes into the four minutes of added time when James Robinson, on for just five minutes as a substitute, was left free at the far post from where he headed home the winner.
It was his first goal for the Victory, and signalled riotous celebrations for Melbourne, who finished just one place above the New Zealand Knights in season one.
