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Adelaide United substitute Awer Mabil has knocked defending champions Brisbane Roar out of the A-League finals in the Reds’ 2-1 victory on Friday night.
Mabil scored the match-winner in the 87th minute as the Reds set up a semi-final against Sydney FC.
After a wonder strike from Adelaide’s Craig Goodwin was cancelled out by Roar linchpin Thomas Broich, Mabil came from the bench in the elimination final to keep the Reds alive.
With Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou among the 20,155-strong crowd at Adelaide Oval, Mabil broke the deadlock and tipped out the Roar, champions in three of the past four seasons.
Mabil, in the 87th minute, slotted a crisp first-time shot from seven metres which Brisbane `keeper Jamie Young got a glove to, but couldn’t halt crossing the goal-line.
Mabil’s lively teammate Goodwin earlier gave Adelaide a dream start with a top-shelf dead-ball strike in just the seventh minute.
After Brisbane’s James Donachie was penalised for crashing into Adelaide midfielder Jimmy Jeggo, Goodwin took aim from 25-metres and produced a memorable moment.
With a sweet left foot, Goodwin curled the free kick around the wall and into the top left corner of the net, beating a sluggish-moving Roar goalkeeper Jamie Young.
But Brisbane responded with a period of sustained poise and, after near misses from Brandon Borello and Broich, they equalised.
The leveller was gifted to Broich by a horrible howler from Adelaide defender Dylan McGowan in the 27th minute.
McGowan gained control in a one-on-one with Broich but turned towards his goal to attempt a back pass – woefully off-balance, all he could muster was a lame left foot which dribbled a metre or so and put the Roar superstar on goal.
Unmarked and closing on Reds `keeper Eugene Galekovic, Broich coolly slotted a low left footer into the net.
The 1-1 scoreline didn’t appear like changing until late in a tense second half when play opened up.
After both sides squandered chances, Mabil was given gold-plated service by fellow sub Miguel Palance, whose cut-back found his teammate unmarked near goal.
Mabil instinctively launched a right-footer which, despite Young’s gallant glove, carried over the goal line.
Adelaide United coach Josep Gombau was rapt to progress to an away semi-final against Sydney FC next Saturday night.
“We are happy … we did a good game and I am satisfied with the way that the players played,” Gombau said.
“In the first half we had chances to increase the score … the second half was very equal, it was very open, and in the end we scored and went ahead.”
Brisbane Roar coach Frans Thijssen lamented missed opportunities.
“We had our chances to win, we had good spells,” he said.
“It’s just disappointing to go out in the first round, and the way to lose the game – just before fulltime.”
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