Sydney FC pipped Melbourne Victory 4-2 in a penalty shootout in last night's A-League grand final.
Sydney FC Photo: Photosport
The Sky Blues also claimed the double, following their runaway Premiers Plate win with a white-knuckle triumph in the decider.
Scores were locked at 1-1 after extra-time of a bitter finale at Allianz Stadium - 11 yellow cards were issued among 59 fouls in the ill-tempered affair.
In a tense penalty shootout, two former Wellington Phoenix players were in the thick of the drama, as Sydney FC goalkeeper Danny Vukovic saved a penalty by the Victory's Marco Rojas.
Sydney's Alex Wilkinson sprayed his shot wide, while Melbourne's Carl Valeri also failed to convert.
Sydney's Johnny Warren Medal winner Milos Ninkovic slotted the sealer - the Sky Blues joining the Victory and Brisbane as three-time A-League champions.
Melbourne's Besart Berisha and Sydney's Rhyan Grant scored the goals during the first 90 minutes.
Berisha gave Victory the lead in the 20th minute with a sublime goal that stunned Sydney's parochial 41,546-strong crowd.
The polarising frontman took possession about 25 metres from goal and toyed with Wilkinson as he ran at the Sydney defender.
After jinking this way, then that, Berisha coolly converted during an opening half punctuated by an all-in melee.
Tempers boiled over in the 34th minute when Sydney's Milos Ninkovic was taken down by a Leigh Broxham tackle.
Ninkovic's instant remonstration escalated in to a push and shove involving all players: three of them - Ninkovic, team-mate Filip Holosko and Melbourne's James Troisi - were booked in the aftermath.
After trailing at half-time, Sydney were rewarded for a period of sustained pressure after substitute David Carney swung onto his right foot and fired a powerful shot.
Victory goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas got a glove on the shot and his team-mate Berisha a slight nod as the ball sailed along the goal line, before Grant steamed in for a 69th minute tap-in.
With scores tied, the decider went to extra-time and Melbourne playmaker Troisi came centimetres from a winner - his crisp volley in the 107th minute struck the inside of the left-hand post.
Just three minutes later, Sky Blues stalwart Carney was brought down and tumbled into the box amid cries for a penalty, but the foul occurred centimetres outside the box.
Carney then butchered a gilt-edged chance when in time and space in the box before the penalty shootout.
- AAP
