A hobbling Luke Brattan produced an extra-time wonder goal for Brisbane Roar to secure the A-League premiership with an epic 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory at Suncorp Stadium.
With the Victory holding on desperately, and goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas standing tall, Brattan unleashed a booming 25m strike to ensure his team could lift the plate with three rounds to play.
It was one minute 40 seconds into extra time and the goal came after many were surprised the midfield linchpin returned for the second half after being badly troubled by a hip problem.
But it was the only shot that could get past Thomas who had denied Brisbane eight times before with clutch saves after they’d thrown everything at the visitors in the pulsating encounter in front of 17,965 fans.
The result seals a place in the Asian Champions League in 2015 and the trophy means the Roar also equal the Victory as the A-League’s most successful club with two premierships and two championships.
“It’s a remarkable achievement,” Brisbane coach Mike Mulvey said. “It’s a brilliant achievement to win top-of-the-league with three rounds to go.”
The Roar enjoyed almost two-thirds of the possession and looked dangerous playing their up-tempo passing game but the Victory were equal to the challenge, and also had their chances.
Thomas Broich and Matt McKay were a constant headache for the Victory’s right-side defence but the visitors also had their chances through the nippy Kosta Barbarouses, while coach Kevin Muscat lamented two contentious off-side calls.
Brattan, who also scored a long-range match-winner against Wellington at Suncorp this season, convinced Mulvey he could play the second half despite team medics being worried about his injury.
“To be honest once Thomas passed to me I was always going to shoot,” he said.
“I just kept my head down and tried not to hit it too hard.
Mulvey, who turned the Roar around since replacing the axed Rado Vidosic midway through last season, said his men would celebrate the premiership but not ease off over the last three rounds.
“I thought that was a fantastic game of football tonight.
“That was two well-organised teams having a real go at each other.
“That was a great sign for Australian football.”
Gutted Victory coach Kevin Muscat tipped his hat to both the Roar, as deserving premiers, and his own leg-weary troops.
Muscat was particularly pleased with his patched-up defence which professionally withstood the Roar’s challenge in their fifth game, including two ACL encounters, in 16 days.
“Mixed among the severe disappointment, I’m thoroughly proud of the boys,” he said.
“Our structure was spot-on and really frustrated them but going the other way I thought we showed a real cutting edge and real threat going forward.
“It hurts more when you really believe you’ve done enough.”
MV Pty Ltd
Guest
So it's the system that forces Rogic to try and dribble past 5 defenders instead of passing the ball to a teammate who is a better position?
Ginger71
Guest
technically the won the premiership because they were the most consistent team all year, not because of one strike in Rd 24. Its insulting for the rest of the team to say Luke Brattan won the premiership for them, it was a foregone conclusion, they were going to win, it was just a matter of which round 24 - 27
Towser
Guest
Overall a game that captivated from start to finish & the tightness of the contest emphasised by the lateness of the goal. For the Roar and it's fans a good sign continuing their mantra that "The game isn't over till the ref blows the final whistle".
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@clayts The claim is "Brisbane dominated this match". If 1 team dominates a contest where only 2 teams are playing, common sense tells us there was no "contest" and without a contest, sport is boring. I've clearly articulated that I think Brisbane has consistently been the best team - by far - in the Aleague this season. If you want to think that amounts to "sour grapes" well, to be honest, your opinion of me means nothing.
clayts
Guest
Yeah i was thinking the same thing. I haven't seen or heard any roar fan lament the fact the game was boring. Much the opposite actually. Smells like sour grapes, to me. Just be gracious in defeat. Victory had a couple of good chances, but Roar had quite a few more. Thomas kept them in it again. On that performance he keeps his spot for at least another few weeks I'd have thought.
j binnie
Guest
Fuss- once again you have to be careful when you analyse your 1 shot every 10 minutes outcome.What you say is true but has to be compared with the opposition's 4 shots giving a figure of 1 every 22 minutes.This could be construed as a team performing better than their opponent but is an anlysis outcome I would immediately question by asking why only one goal was scored from 9 attempts on target. That leads to another debate,how good are Roar at scoring the number of goals their play probably warrants?.Statistical analysis, a path to be trod very carefully. Your mate jb.
stu
Guest
In the case of Rogic....apparently it's all the fault of Celtic and Scottish football.
Johan
Guest
I agree that their crowds are derisory during the regular season but if they win the right to host the Grand Final Then it should be played at the blue tongue stadium even though it only has 3 sides.
TheVolley
Guest
W.r.t to Rogic I think it's a problem of coaching rather than player. Ange knows exactly how to play the players he picks. Can't say the same for Muscat. The system Muscat is playing is not his - it's someone else's.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Well perhaps the fans should turn up then? They had the chance last grand final and ruffly 10,000 turned up. They can't even manage that by themselves on a consistent basis. Not that they should be expected too, but when a further 25,000 fans are required to miss out, I think it's more fair to hold it at a much larger stadium.
Johan
Guest
That is a consideration but it is unfair that if the mariners were to win the right to host the grand final and play for example a Sydney team they would effectively be playing an away match. Is that any better?
Bernie
Guest
Your comments bring very little to this forum with your constant attitude fuss
Chopper
Guest
Getting back to the Roar x MV game I was struck by the poor games had by Troisi, Rogic and Milligan. Irrespective of the point of view pushed by the TV experts I thought Troisi looked a shadow of his early season form, Rogic pushed one pass through with the outside of his foot to an offside colleague and had two speculative long range shots and Milligan gave away possession far too easily although in Milligan's defence he did backtrack a number of times to make desperate tackles. I am an avid Socceroos fan and all three of them did themselves no justice in this game. For those who say this is a result of a recent heavy match load I would say that is similar to the intensity they will have to endure in the World Cup. My biggest disappointment is Rogic because although he shows great skills and balance he is still a work in progress. Having watched him in recent games he looks lost as to what his main task is. I think all the media hype and expectations of the fans is too big a burden for this rookie to carry. The lad has shown promise and oodles of potential but in his own team Finkler outshone him, it may well be a lack of energy or game time however if he goes to the world cup it will be purely educational because I don't see Rogic having any great impact. Perhaps the Word Cup tournament can be used to assist players like Rogic, Taggart, Troisi and Juric see what they have to do to make the grade. Hopefully Bresciano will get match fit and partner a Luongo, Valerie or Holland for the Socceroos midfield with Jedinak playing the holding role. Ange has said he will pick his team on form so with the MV trio this will be one of his many big tests.
TheVolley
Guest
Glad someone has pointed a similar observation of mine. There you go Bondy, it's not just my observation.
TheVolley
Guest
Bondy, I've been in enough 'discussions' to know how Fuss works. It's the same tactic - change the goal posts to win arguments tactics. In any case, just because sometimes I don't leave a comment, doesn't mean I don't follow the threads.
Australian Rules
Guest
realf - good post. Sadly, asking for the respectful, tolerant and indeed "adult" middle way, is beyond that particular poster.
TheVolley
Guest
Bondy, I've been in enough 'discussions' to know how Fuss works. It's the same tactic - change the goal posts to win arguments tactics.
Bondy
Guest
The Volley How can Fuss illustrate the same old typical behaviour you're never here .
realfootball
Guest
You have only two modes of discussion, Fussball: either denigrating a poster or, more rarely, genuflecting in the most obsequious possible manner. Here's a thought: try the middle way. Treat everyone, unless they are being obviously objectionable and clearly trolling, with respect and tolerance.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Johan, what about the amount of people who will miss out on a ticket?