At their imperious peak in the late 2010s, Sydney FC specialised in heartbreak. Specifically, in delivering it. The Sky Blue machine killed dreams, sweeping all beyond them with ruthless efficiency as they established their own A-League dynasty. And while this Australia Cup win does not necessarily mean the resumption of such stylings, there was a certain sense of familiarity to the way they went about securing a 3-1 win over Brisbane on Saturday evening. They were down but not out and, eventually, they found a path to victory. And really, the state of Queensland just can’t catch a break. A week on from the Lions, Broncos and Titans all falling in their respective deciders, the Roar had been forced to travel to NSW because of a lack of a suitable venue to host this fixture in Brisbane. They are now the eighth consecutive side that has travelled interstate for the game and lost. They miss out on the chance to not only secure a berth in the newly christened AFC Champions League 2 but to give themselves a surge of momentum before they open their 2023-24 A-League Men campaign in two weeks time. And it will sting because throughout the opening 45 minutes at Allianz Stadium, Sydney was outclassed. Eighteen-year-old Thomas Waddingham had the Queenslanders ahead in the 18th minute, pouncing on Rhyan Grant’s block of a Nikola Mileusnic shot to mark his fourth-straight Cup game with a goal. Pockets of space were being found out wide and the midfield battle was handily going the way of the side in orange as they played through their opponent’s press. After a downtrodden few years, a ray of hope appeared to be on its way to Lang Park. Up the other end, Sydney were creating chances of their own only to be frustrated – often by an inspired Scott Neville. With his defensive partner Tom Aldred battling a shoulder injury, the 34-year-old slid in at the last to deny Anthony Caceres what looked like an almost certain goal on the breakaway in the 31st minute. In the 53rd minute an even more urgent sliding intervention was required when he got just in front of a Joe Lolley ball in the direction of Wood for what would have been a simple tap-in after the Harbousiders broke. But that second intervention proved just a temporary reprieve. His side now wresting control of the possession and shot tallies as they chased the game, finding their own space in behind on the flanks and exploring it, coach Steve Corica, a Queenslander himself who had been left smarting the week prior when his Broncos fell to Penrith in the NRL grand final, saw his side rewarded. In an instinctive effort to protect his face, Mitch Hore palmed a ball destined for his nose away in the 68th minute. Brazilian striker, Fábio Gomes, newly arrived on loan from Atlético Mineiro and only on the pitch for minutes, dispatched the resulting spot kick. Five minutes later, Mark Viduka medalist Lolley, who was increasingly running rampant behind Roar’s lines on the right flank, slid a delivery across the face of the goal that found its way to Robert Mak, who finished at close range. Brisbane tried to respond again, to try and find the mythical “Magic of the Cup”, but nothing was forthcoming. Mak shot wide in the 79th minute and Fábio again went close soon after. Then the Brazilian had his brace in the 91st when he pounced on a rebound from a Jaiden Kucharski shot to seal the contest, arriving just before the offside Grant to ensure the goal would stand. Sydney’s first Australia Cup since 2017, and Roar’s dreams of a first trophy in nine-and-a-half years dashed.