Heartwarming twist in FFA Cup ball boy saga

A pair of touching gestures saw despair turn to joy for a shattered young ball boy who was manhandled in Tuesday night's FFA Cup final between Sydney FC and Adelaide United at Allianz Stadium.

The extra-time incident occurred when Adelaide's Michael Marrone approached the ball boy and attempted to retrieve the ball on the sideline minutes after Bobo headed in Sydney FC's 2-1 winner to clinch the Cup.

Video footage shows the youngster turning away from Marrone, before the player shoves him and he falls to the ground.

The boy was clearly rattled as chaotic scenes unfolded around him, with players and officials clamouring amongst one another on the sidelines.

SHOCKING SCENES: Chaos erupts as ball boy is manhandled to the ground

However, in a heartwarming twist at the end of the match, Sydney left-back Michael Zullo gave his winner's medal to the ball boy.

Then in a moment the youngster will cherish forever, the boy was invited to join the Sky Blues in hoisting the FFA Cup trophy.

Marrone was red-carded over the 116th minute incident but his coach Marco Kurz defended the player after the game, insisting it wasn't his intention to do the boy any harm.

"I said after the game to the ball boy, 'I am sorry in this moment' and also to the dad," Reds coach Kurz said after the clash in Sydney.

"I will say it's not the character for Mickey (Marrone).

"You know Mickey he is very down in the dressing room and I think he spoke with the boy.

"It's not his nature and now I hope after the talked it (the ball boy ) was OK.

"From my side and also from the players’ side we say sorry.

"He is one of the most quietest persons I know in the sport."

Sydney FC's extra time win saw them lift the FFA Cup and clinch the coveted domestic treble.

Milos Ninkovic opened the scoring and Nikola Mileusnic levelled with the first away goal in the Cup's short final history, before Bobo finally separated the sides in the 111th minute.

Graham Arnold's men convincingly added a third trophy to their A-League Premiers' Plate and championship in arguably their best performance of the season.

"I'm so proud of the boys," Arnold said.

"With such a short turnaround, the Newcastle game was hard but to put in a 120-minute shift and find a way to win.

"Their will to win is second to none."

With agencies