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Tim Cahill scored the only goal as Melbourne City beat Sydney FC in the FFA Cup final to secure the first trophy in their seven-year history. Cahill headed home Ivan Franjic's cross on 53 minutes to earn City the prize before hobbling off with a knee injury shortly after, in front of a record FFA Cup crowd of 18,751 on Wednesday night. The game was fiercely contested with 10 fouls in the opening 15 minutes and a near 20-man melee following a foul from City's Luke Brattan on Michael Zullo in front of the Sydney bench that resulted in Milos Ninkovic shoving Fernando Brandan to the ground. Sydney enjoyed the better of the first-half, but despite their dominance managed only one shot on goal, while Cahill and Brandan missed good chances for City. Cahill -- recalled to the starting XI as one of four changes -- headed wide from fellow returnee Nicolas Colazo's free kick and Brandan volleyed wide from a chance created by Bruno Fornaroli. After the break Cahill rose in his indomitable style, freeing himself of marker Matt Jurman to head past Danny Vukovic from Franjic's cross but he departed injured soon after. The 36-year-old appeared to hyperextend his left knee under the weight of Josh Brillante's tackle from behind, lasting just a few more minutes before being substituted. The Sky Blues -- playing without key defender Alex Wilkinson because of a virus -- chased the game and had their moments. Bobo's header required a goalline clearance from Michael Jaksobsen, while Osama Malik's injury-time tumble with Alex Brosque might have brought a late free kick. It wasn't to be for Graham Arnold's side, and they must now wait at least six months longer to break their own seven-year trophy drought.
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