That’s what made Joel Chianese’s early miss all the more lamentable as the former Sydney FC striker’s close range header came agonisingly close to giving the hosts the opener in the fifth minute.

However,it was Perth’s structure that provided the most confidence to their boisterous home crowd. They stifled Sydney’s attack with a suffocating phalanx-like defensive system that appeared watertight. Or so they thought.

Once the Sky Blues eventually found their rhythm in possession,they pried open the best opportunity of the half. A quick exchange between Michael Zullo and Alex Brosque put Sydney’s fullback into space to deliver a pin-point cross to marksman Adam Le Fondre in front of goal. The English striker made no mistake but his celebrations were muted by the assistant referee’s flag.

The VAR,Kris Griffiths-Jones,agreed Zullo had strayed narrowly offside despite broadcast replays suggesting otherwise. The visitors protested furiously and their normally mild-mannered coach,Steve Corica,was given a caution for his complaints from the sideline.

"Obviously they made a bad decision there,everyone could see it was onside and should have been a goal,"Corica said."I knew in the end that when it goes the distance that our boys have the mentality,the character,they’ve been there before,they have done it and when the pressure is on they would come up with the goods."

He had to regain his composure during the break to settle his side who were thanking Redmayne once more for keeping them in the contest shortly after the restart. Castro broke free of his marker inside the box to gain a free header on goal but found no way past Redmayne. With few risks taken,it was unsurprising it went beyond 90 minutes.

Sydney were dealt an early set back in extra-time when Brosque succumbed to a hamstring injury,likely drawing to a close to career. After a lethargic 30 minutes produced no clear chances,the grand final went to penalties.

It was a stage set for Redmayne who had saved four of his five penalties this season. He continued his dominance with a superb reflex save to deny Andy Keogh before out-witting Brendon Santalab’s lame panenka. With Le Fondre,Brendon O’Neill,Rhyan Grant having already converted,Ghoochannejhad had the chance to become the hero. And the Iran striker’s cool head prevailed.