It was 2009-2010 and second-placed Sydney FC went into its last-round home game two points behind Victory, its opponent that day. Sydney won 2-0 to take the Premier's Plate, the goals coming from Karol Kisel and John Aloisi.
Victory went on to win the two-legged major semi-final and take home-ground advantage for the grand final under the finals format that has since been changed. The Sky Blues went to Melbourne and won the decider on penalties, with the match 1-1 after extra time.
Adrian Leijer scored for Victory and Mark Bridge for Sydney. Kruse and Muscat were in the Victory side.
Who knows how the current, extraordinarily close battle for the Premier's Plate is going to work out, with Wellington Phoenix leading on 42 points, Victory, Sydney and Perth Glory all on 41 and Adelaide United 40 with four rounds left?
The only thing we can say for sure is that after Phoenix's loss to Sydney on the weekend, Victory, having beaten Central Coast and still with an extra game to play, has its destiny in its own hands again.
If it was to win out from here, Victory would finish first, but something tells False 9 it won't turn out that simple and there will plenty more twists and turns before we see how it all evolves.
How did that feel
That was one hell of a goal from Perth Glory defender Josh Risdon to give his team its first win since beating Melbourne Victory 2-1 on 2 January.
It looked like Perth was going to have to settle for yet another draw until Risdon ran the ball in the 87th minute and shot from outside the box to clinch a 3-2 win over Western Sydney Wanderers.
Wanderers goalkeeper Ante Covic did his best to stretch and get a touch, but with the ball swerving away from him towards the top corner he had no chance.
Risdon confessed he was running so fast any options other than to have a long-range crack at goal quickly disappeared.
"It was definitely one of the best goals I've ever scored," Risdon said. "I was taking the ball forward and going a bit too quick and my options were running out, so I just thought last option was to shoot. Luckily I hit it pretty well!"
Baby this town rips the bones from your back
What is it about Sydney FC and the road this year? It has played 12 games at home for four wins, four draws and four losses and 11 games away for seven wins, four draws and no losses.
That just does not compute!
False 9 hears that keen student of classic rock - big INXS fan and Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold - has compiled special music tapes for his players to listen to when they are on planes and buses that feature great road songs and that this is responsible for having them buzzing.
In honour of this brilliant coaching ploy, False 9 proudly brings you not only one of the greatest road songs, but one of the greatest songs - period - of all-time.
It is none other than The Boss, Bruce Springsteen, with Born To Run. This one's for you, "Arnie".
Warning: The story that Arnie compiles music tapes for his players on away trips may not be credible. It is 1 April soon, after all.
Man of the hour (and a half)
False 9 is a self-confessed big fan of the work of Melbourne Victory playmaker Gui Finkler. He can make goals or score goals and he can put the ball away from general play or free-kick situations. Bottom line, he's one of the best players in the competition.
Against Central Coast, he provided a lesson in how to score from a difficult angle that every young player should observe. Twice, Finkler received the ball and calmly opened up his body before curling it around goalkeeper Liam Reddy for a goal with the inside of his boot. It was perfect.
Victory coach Kevin Muscat summed it up when he said: "We've got match-winners. When that moment arrives, they step up. Tonight it was Gui's turn, he didn't let us down. Two moments of composure, two moments of brilliance, that wins us the game."
Tweet, tweet #1
Sydney FC substitute Rhyan Grant might want to quit while he's behind!
After being caught out in the embarrassing position of not wearing the proper playing strip when coach Graham Arnold wanted to use him against Wellington Phoenix, forcing a delay in getting him on, Grant took to Twitter to try to square up for his mistake.
It was a valiant attempt, but it would have been better had he correctly spelt the name of club sponsor Beechwood Homes.
Tweet, tweet #2
Good to see his Adelaide United teammates are educating Argentine star Marcelo Carrusca on the finer points of cricket.
Hopefully, the team's Spanish contingent is coming to grips with the game as well!
The Theo-ry of A-League Evolution
Michael Theo was included in Melbourne Victory's team of the decade, announced on Saturday night. His selection was a no-brainer, since he was the goalkeeper when Victory won its two championships in the 2006-2007 and 2008-2009 seasons.
If Brisbane named a team of the decade, he would be a certain selection there as well, having been the goalkeeper for all three of its championships, in 2010-2011, 2011-2012 and 2013-2014.
How many other players would make the team of the decade at two different clubs?
Victory's team was naturally dominated by players who were in one or both of those championship-winning sides, which also included Archie Thompson, Kevin Muscat, Danny Allsopp, Rodrigo Vargas, Adrian Leijer, Grant Brebner, Matthew Kemp, Carlos Hernandez and Tom Pondeljak.
Power rankings (last week in brackets)
1 Sydney FC (2) A 3-0 away win over Wellington sends it straight back to the top after a week in second place.
2 Melbourne Victory (3) Not at its best against Central Coast, but still managed to squeeze out an important win.
3 Wellington Phoenix (1) Getting a clip over the ear at home against Sydney FC is a shock to the system it must quickly overcome.
4 Melbourne City (4) All but clinched the last available spot in the finals by beating Brisbane. Developing consistency at last.
5 Perth Glory (5) Finally, a return to the winning list. Don't be surprised if it finishes the season with a flourish now.
6 Adelaide United (6) It was a real battle on the road against Newcastle, so it'll take the three points and just move on.
7 Central Coast Mariners (8) Rare to rise when you lose, but it tried hard against Victory and Brisbane is in free-fall.
8 Brisbane Roar (7) Four straight losses in a hurry, including a midweek catch-up game against the Wanderers, and its finals bid is in tatters.
9 Western Sydney Wanderers (9) Tough road double saw it get a win over Roar and push Perth all the way.
10 Newcastle Jets (9) Had its chances against Adelaide, but - shock, horror - didn't take them. If only it could finish.
Can't wait for . . .
Yet another top-of-the-table clash!
We've had a few of them recently: Melbourne Victory v Perth Glory, Perth v Wellington, and now it's Wellington against Victory at Westpac Stadium on Sunday.
That's the nature of this competition. It's so tight in the top five we're seeing different teams in the top two from week to week according to results.
This is second-placed Victory's chance to strike. If it wins this game it will take the lead with a game in hand and only three rounds to go.
