In a grand final qualifier that was always likely to be decided by the finest of margins, it was no surprise that this one went all the way to the final spot kick.
In front of a disappointing Bluetongue crowd of 7,572, Perth Glory eventually beat the Central Coast Mariners 5-3 on penalties after scores were locked at 1-1 after extra time.
This was always going to be a tight and tense affair, and so it proved, with the game twisting this way and that, the cards eventually falling in the Glory’s favour.
Such is the physicality and style of both these sides, there was likely to be little separating them, with the formations selected only confirming a risk-free approach, perhaps understandable for a final.
With Ian Ferguson playing Shane Smeltz in the hole behind Billy Mehmet, in a formation that looked like a 4-2-3-1 in defence and 4-4-2 in attack, this only made the game tighter.
Graham Arnold, meanwhile, had a choice between the muscle of target man John Sutton or the younger and quicker Bernie Ibini, effectively a choice between hitting a big man and playing for seconds, or trying to expose the Glory in behind.
Choosing Sutton and leaving Ibini for late impact off the bench highlighted the way Arnold was thinking.
He was prepared to engage Ferguson in a physical battle, and leave Ibini for later, when the game opened up and players tired.
In truth, it was the most sensible option, and had both Adam Kwasnik and Ibini been a little more ruthless when the Mariners were dominating the second period, things may have been entirely different.
Indeed, in the space of a couple of minutes midway through the second period, Kwasnik missed two great opportunities, firing the first close enough for Danny Vukovic to react with his right foot, and then blazing across the goal a minute later.
And this was after the missed penalty by Patrick Zwaanswijk earlier in the second half.
Punching in my notes at the game, I wondered whether these three great opportunities would come back to haunt the Mariners.
No doubt Arnold and a few in the gallery may have been thinking the same thing.
In truth, an inability to finish has been the issue for the Mariners since Matt Simon’s departed in January.
Flying mid-season, but bereft of funds and needing to balance the books, they took a pragmatic approach by letting Simon and Rostyn Griffiths go.
This was always likely to come back to bite, and with Sutton failing to have an impact up front, the attack often floundered.
Simon’s absence, in particular, effected the performances of Ibini. Together they were developing quite the partnership, sharing scoring and assist duties, but the youngster has struggled since.
While Arnold was able to cover the centre of his midfield through John Hutchinson, the lack of midfield cover in his squad meant that Hutchinson, Michael McGlinchey and Oliver Bozanic were playing game after game, in both the A-League and Asian Champions League.
Perth on the hand have been able to concentrate on matters domestic, and at times it showed, with Dean Heffernan in particular running on strongly towards the end while his apposing fullbacks looked jaded.
Earlier in the evening it was Josh Risdon getting forward and impressing, playing a key role in Smeltz’s equaliser.
While the Mariners had fair claims for feeling aggrieved about the lack of an offside flag in the build up, the ledger was balanced somewhat by the awarding of a soft penalty against Steve Pantelidis.
At the end of the day, as Arnold hinted afterwards, it was poor finishing rather than poor officiating that cost them.
The Glory, meanwhile, continue a run that has seen them lose only two of their past 18, that after a five game losing streak before Christmas.
Ominously, one of those 3-0 losses was at the hands of next week’s grand final opponents, Brisbane Roar.
Having played two periods of extra time on the spin, there’s little doubt Ferguson will have to nurse some sore and aging bodies through the next week.
As well, it looks like he’ll miss his influential Brazilian left sided player Andrezinho, who limped off Bluetongue with what looked a bad groin injury.
It won’t be easy on the wide expanses of Suncorp, but you’d be mad to completely write off the Glory.
As I wrote a fortnight ago, Ferguson should take much of the credit for pulling things together, but the reality is that everyone at the club has played a role.
From Tony Sage to Jacob Burns and the rest of the players, there has been a steely determination to turn things around.
Burns has epitomised the mentality running through the place, leading by example, rekindling some of his best form.
Yesterday he took the responsibility of looking after Tomas Rogic, one few have been successful at. Often he was seen throwing his body at an opponent to block a shot, inspiring stuff.
It was fitting therefore that he stepped up and buried the winning spot kick, as sad as it was to see Michael McGlinchey, one of the Mariners best this season, miss his.
Such were the fine margins between success and failure on this gripping evening.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
And not one scoreless draw for the entire year, haha.
Perth OzGooner
Guest
Further to that we also had the equal second highest goals scored in the league.
Perth OzGooner
Guest
Clearly you haven't watched much of Glory. When we were losing last season and this season it was trying to play route 1 football bashing it long to Billy and Smeltz. Since we moved back to a more possession style game we've returned to winning ways, scoring a lot of team goals with long passing moves starting at the back and working the ball forward to the strikers. The overlapping runs from our fullbacks down the wings and quick movement across the field as well as the skill of players like Andrezinho, Miller and McGarry to pick a pass through the defense has made the difference. The emergence at the end of the season of some of the teenage players through the middle of the park (while still winning games) shows what we have coming through and the fact that Josh Risdon (19) was one of our most consistant players shows we wont be fading away any time soon. Scott Neville missed most of the season through injury but is back in now and will be again next season. He is only 23. Burns is the only mid 30's player who consistently starts games. The other 2 (Coyne and Sikora) haven't been anywhere near the park. The average age of the squad, not including the kids at the end of the season, is under 28. It's under 27 if the oldest 3 (Burns, McGarry and Dodd) are taken out (all players who have young players backing them up) meaning this squad has a lot more to give so do some research before you next comment on a team.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
We get such an unfair rep with people. LAST year was the one we tried to buy the league. This year we did it with a lot of judicious, well-thought out purchasing. Even though some of them had us puzzled at the time.
daniel
Guest
Actually, the average age is 29, which drops significantly if you take Miller out.
Titus
Guest
Disapointing that the whole Football community doesn't get behind the a-league I guess, sure it's not the EPL but the standerd is high enough and provides for a very entertaining game, and if people do support the game then the standard would only get better. I guess in a way the a-league season is over, CCM won it and now we are into our NAB cup comp, whilst also having the ACL to attend to. The final will be big, as our own FA Cup final. But we also need a bit of perspective, the CCM maintained an average that wouldn't be far off the Brumbies average and the Super 15 is the worlds premier Rugby competition while the a-league is what it is, an under resourced Football competition. So lets focus on the positives and look forward to a brighter future. I saw some of the photos of the crowd from the game and it looked like a nice community mix of very passionate people who were really enjoying themselves. http://au.fourfourtwo.com/Gallery/297017,with-the-fans-at-bluetongue.aspx/1
King Robbo
Guest
Arnie was a bit wrong in his post match interview. Sure glory were lucky but to blame the refs for his sides poor finishing showed bad sportsmanship. Also I disagree about the premiers plate showing who the best team is in the league is, as each team played the other 3 times. So some teams had the advantage of playing particular teams twice at home and one away and as such the difference between roar and central coast on pts was not too much to merit him saying that. If all teams played each team the same times home and away I would agree the premiers plate being more important than the GF.
DavoRR
Guest
LOL Mr Whites. Initially I & many other veterans of Brisbane football could not support the original Brisbane Lions/Roar after hating the old Brisbane Lions Soccer Club created by Dutch Club members and the demise of the Brisbane Strikers. However in recent times the Roar get support from all over Brisbane and all clubs. We will be very sad if AP leaves, however if he does move to that big spending Mexican club, he will leave a great legacy for a new coach, maybe Rado Visovic. I hope they also approach Mike Mulvey as an assistant because he seemed to work wonders with the kids at GCU.
Roarsome
Guest
Call them whatever you like, as long as its Champions! Hopefully we can go back to back. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Whites
Guest
They're now owned by the Dutch East Indies.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I'll call them what ever I like, you deal with it.
Neil
Guest
I thought this DUTCH rubbish would have gone by now, Roar is a stand alone franchise, get over it.
Atawhai Drive
Roar Guru
My mate and I, Sydney FC members, made the effort to get to this match, me heading south and him coming up from Central. Plenty of Mariners fans on my train, more Mariners fans and the odd Glory loyalist on his. At the ground, I listened to the Coast FM radio preview. The commentators referred to what they said was a small crowd on hand, but they also suggested previous crowd figures had not been accurate. From where I was, high in the eastern grandstand, the crowd looked solid enough, maybe heading up towards 10,000, and I was shocked when the 7500 figure was posted. Later, I saw the TV replay and the one area of the ground invisible to me during the match, the lower level on the eastern side, was disappointingly barren of spectators. We were drawn into conversations with Mariners fans all around us, and a knowledgeable and passionate bunch they are. But there just weren't enough of them yesterday. Why? The Coast FM boys were suggesting ticket prices were too high, but I'm not sure I buy that one. Bluetongue Stadium is a brilliant venue, perfect for the A-League, easy to get into and especially easy to get out of (you get fed straight into the Central Coast Leagues Club across the road). Even as a neutral, I would go to a Mariners game any time. But not enough people feel the same way.
Ballymore
Guest
Unless you watched it in a pub, hotel room or taped it of course.
Whites
Guest
At least the week before they had the minor excuse of 25,000 people up the road watching the Knights play at Hunter Stadium.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I much as I can't stand the Dutch Roar, will still hope they beat the Glory as they play the football I appreciate and the Glory don't.
DavoRR
Guest
What is happenig in Gosford this WE that only 7500 attended Bluetongue last night? And surely Arnie has stop complaining about 50:50 decisions when his team misses a penally and other gilt edged opportunities.
Whites
Guest
Also well done to the coverage by Fox Sports. We should be thankful they have the red button facility so they were still able to show the penalty shootout after cutting to an AFL regular season game.
The Bear
Guest
Well done to Perth. Mariners are s little too inexperienced with attacking options. Interesting Roarsome! TWG source apparently. Hopefully just a rant. I would trade Ange for MacKay ;) All is not lost especially if our core stays together. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Realfootball
Guest
Sage has bought Ferguson his place in the final with a team of aging star players. The football they play never rises above dull and ordinary. On one level I'm pleased at the result because it is great to see Perth thereabouts after so long, and I'm also looking forward to a different grand final opponent to CCM. On the other hand, I have no confidence in Ferguson's ability as a coach, and this result condemns Perth to several more years of dull, uninspiring True Brit football. Next season will be a better test for Ferguson. He has a lot of players in their early to mid 30s, and as a result this is a Perth team that will decine, not improve, with every season unless significant rebuilding is undertaken - exactly what Merrick failed to do at Victory. With this team another year older, Perth will sink without a trace in the ACL without new blood. Frankly, even in the A-League next season, Perth will struggle to keep up with this group of aging players.