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Central Coast won’t be the only team with revenge on their mind in Saturday’s A-League major semi-final when they meet a hungry Brisbane Roar at their grand final graveyard.
While the Mariners are driven to overcome the disappointment of giving up a 2-0 lead in last season’s decider at Suncorp Stadium, Roar playmaker Thomas Broich said the defending champions want to atone for similar frustrations.
Brisbane relinquished the premier’s plate last week by finishing two points behind their closest rivals and Broich revealed they had plenty to prove in the play-off series.
“It was disappointing for us to finish second,” the German said on Friday.
“We feel we are still the best team in the country but we haven’t been able to prove that over 27 games.
“So that’s a massive (motivation) for us and we still get a second chance to do better and we really need to take that chance.
“What happened to them last year (in the grand final) was quite cruel so that will still be inside them and if they have a 2-0 lead again they will be even more desperate to defend what they’ve got.
“It won’t be easy.”
Broich, regarded by Roar captain Matt Smith as the best player in the history of the A-League, will play his 50th A-League match in the first leg of the two-leg semi-final.
His huge influence was shown when Brisbane’s record 36-match unbeaten streak ended when the 31-year-old succumbed to a heel injury and was then followed by five losses.
In a warning for the Mariners, the attacking midfielder felt he was back near peak form after regaining fitness and rhythm following the heel problem and a shoulder injury.
Broich agreed with criticism he’d fallen from his lofty standards over the past two months, highlighted by an uncharacteristically poor match against Adelaide where he squandered a string of goal-scoring chances.
“It was almost embarrassing against Adelaide,” he said.
“Coming back from injuries is always very difficult.
“But I feel like I’m getting closer to my peak, maybe just right in time.”
Since their five straight losses late last year, the Roar have only tasted defeat once more and have six wins and two draws from their past eight matches – compared to Central Coast’s record of three wins, three losses and two losses in the same time.
It’s that momentum which has coach Ange Postecoglou confident of booking another home grand final on April 22.
“We’ve got great form leading into the finals, that’s more of a factor than anything else,” Postecoglou said.
The Roar received a boost on match eve with Bahraini central defender Mohamed Adnan (knee) proving his fitness to line up in a full-strength side at Suncorp Stadium.
The Mariners will wear black arm-bands following the death of Daniel McBreen’s father.
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