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The Live Sport Bible is here!Full circle for Garuccio as Sydney FC reach grand final
Joanna Guelas, AAP • May 17th, 2026 7:43 am
Ben Garuccio is the hero of the hour as he converted the winning shootout penalty | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
The last time Sydney FC played in an A-League Men grand final, Ben Garuccio was on the other side - and so was Patrick Kisnorbo.
It was 2021, and Garuccio was left on the bench by Kisnorbo, who guided Melbourne City to a 3-1 victory over the Sky Blues.
Nearly five years on, defender Garuccio converted the winning penalty kick in the shootout to fire Sydney to the grand final as Kisnorbo, now the interim coach at the Sky Blues, watched on in delight at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Sydney booked their spot against Auckland FC after defeating premiers Newcastle with a 2-2 (4-2) semi-final win on aggregate.
With the tie level at 1-1 after the first leg, Sydney youngster Piero Quispe scored in the 64th minute before Eli Adams hit back to send the game into extra time.
Unable to find the match-winner, goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares denied Jets winger Xavier Bertoncello before Garuccio rose to the occasion.
Garuccio could only laugh at the neat symmetry of earning a grand final berth alongside Kisnorbo.
Ben Garuccio hailing the winning shootout penalty as Sydney FC reached the A-League Men grand final | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
"I was on the other side in 2021, and so was PK," Garuccio told AAP.
"I know PK's had a couple of finals since and hasn't won, so I'm sure he's going to be wanting to get that trophy.
"He's the same, to be honest. The fundamentals are working hard and being together, and never letting anyone bully you."
Saturday's grand final at Go Media Stadium will be Kisnorbo's seventh game in charge of Sydney FC since replacing Ufuk Talay in March.
Garuccio nears his second grand final appearance after winning the 2022 championship with Western United.
Then captain, the 30-year-old was forced to find a new home in September after United were stripped of their A-League licence for financial reasons.
Sydney head coach Patrick Kisnorbo is in sight of another A-League Men championship | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
"Joining Sydney FC, it was a little bit different to when I joined Western," Garuccio said.
"When I came to Sydney, I knew the expectations of the club was to be the best team in the A-League.
"I spoke to a couple of the younger players, Akol Akon, 16 years old, and playing in a grand final.
"I just started to say, like these moments, maybe you can count them on one hand in your career. Maybe once, twice, three times max.
"You've got to make the most of these moments.
"This week is going to be a great week. Grand final week is the best week of the season."
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