Brisbane Roar have claimed their third title in four years with a 2-1 victory over the Western Sydney Wanderers after extra time in the A-League grand final at a packed out Suncorp Stadium.
Goals to Henrique and Besart Berisha saw the Roar complete the double after securing the sport at the top of the league months ago.
It was the seventh time out of nine grand finals that the first half has gone without a goal being scored, but there was no shortage of chances for both sides.
More A-League grand final coverage:
– Comment: Mike Tuckerman
– Roar revel in Suncorp success
– Football is here to stay in Australia
– Brisbane puts on a great A-League final
– Mulvey: Roar now A-League benchmark
– The Roar‘s live blog
The Red and Black Bloc and The Den both made their voices heard rom the outset, but it was Wanderers who settled better, with more accomplished passing. The Roar, despite the home-ground advantage, were uncharacteristically sloppy in the early exchanges.
Shinji Ono and Youssouf Hersi were particularly prevalent in the opening 15 minutes, with a couple of crosses working their way into the area but unable to be latched onto by Wanderers finishers. Ono had a couple of long-range efforts which failed to trouble Roar custodian Michael Theo.
Western Sydney applied heavy pressure on The Roar in defence, with an aggressive Hersi particularly lucky to escape an early sanction.
Cute exchanges between Mark Bridge, under an injury cloud before the game, and Brendon Santalab also highlighted the early exchanges.
Roar forward Thomas Broich had perhaps the best chance of the first half, with a break against the run of play seeing his right foot strike swerve just wide of Wanderers keeper Ante Covic’s right post.
So close for Roar going up against the run of play. #ALeagueGF pic.twitter.com/EgGaKZ4a0E
— FOX SPORTS Football (@FOXFootballLive) May 4, 2014
Western Sydney striker Santalab worryingly limped to the sideline with 12 minutes to go before the break after a challenge. Despite young forward Tomi Juric warming up, Santalab retook his place in the forward line after a couple of minutes of recovery.
Roar talisman Besart Berisha showed plenty of willingness to get involved, but heavy pressure on the Roar’s midfield made the Albanian mostly a spectator in the first half. There was no doubt the Victory-bound forward would be just as hungry in the second to get on the scoresheet in his final game for the club.
The Wanderers paid a small penalty for their willingness in defence, with Santalab and Adam D’Apuzzo both seeing cautions from the referee.
Confusion between Ante Covic and Nikolai Topor-Stanley saw the Wanderers skipper cop a knock late in the half, but he was fine to continue for the rest of the half.
Brisbane Roar player Thomas Broich (front), flanked by Western Sydney Wanderers’ Lacopo La Rocca, kicks during their A-League Grand Final match at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Sunday, May 4, 2014. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)
A misdirected cross from Brisbane’s Ivan Franjic hit the crossbar after Covic was caught out of position. The Roar had the better of the latter stages, with Brattan also having a shot on target from an acute angle, but with both teams well and truly having felt out their opposite, a cracking second half awaited.
Ante Covic nearly beaten by the dreaded scross (shot-cross). #ALeagueGF pic.twitter.com/EUyRfjnSPM
— FOX SPORTS Football (@FOXFootballLive) May 4, 2014
Brisbane had the better of the early exchanges in the second half, with Besart Berisha looking more threatening than in the first stanza as well as an Ivan Franjic shot from outside the box sailing over Covic and the crossbar.
Matthew Spiranovic opened the scoring in the 56th minute, taking advantage of some lazy Roar defending by latching onto an Ono set piece to head it into the top right corner.
The moment @wswanderersfc took the lead v @brisbaneroar thanks to #Spiranovic pic.twitter.com/WxjKtDRHX1
— telegraph_sport (@telegraph_sport) May 4, 2014
It was just reward for the hard work the Wanderers had put in for the 55 minutes preceding it.
The Roar weren’t going to lie down, though, having the better of the general play for most of the second half.
Youssouf Hersi earned himself that yellow card for a clumsy challenge not far afterwards as Roar continued to equalise the previously lopsided possession statistic.
The pressure continued to mount on the Wanderers defence when skipper Topor-Stanley was forced off with a medial ligament injury after a clash deep in their defensive half.
Thomas Broich was brought down a metre outside the box, only for Berisha’s shot from the set piece to sail over the bar. Berisha had another change a couple of minutes later, but was undone by a last-ditch leg from goal-scorer Spiranovic after having a couple of looks at an open chunk of goal.
Just a minute later Berisha again fired wide from a header from a free kick. Three chances in as many minutes wasted by the Albanian.
Mike Mulvey looked to inject more creativity into his charges as the Roar pressed hard for an equaliser, with Henrique coming on, sparking another Broich effort on goal which again went past the left post of Covic.
It was that man Henrique who found himself in scoring position in the 76th minute, but was again wasteful in front of goal and shot over the bar from 10 metres.
But all the pressure, the free kicks, the near misses, it all had to tell on Wanderers eventually. It was the European connection of Broich to Berisha finally worked for the Roar on the scoresheet. The Albanian headed home a Broich free kick from seven metres to equalise for Brisbane.
The Wanderers were hanging on, and had seven more minutes to cling to life before extra time. Despite a final-minute free kick for Brisbane, and a couple of break out chances to Wanderers, there was no breaking the deadlock, and the teams headed for 30 extra minutes of play.
With the standard of play as good as it was, the game deserved nothing less.
Western Sydney started the livelier of the two sides in extra time, with Hersi getting an opportunity but slipped upon shooting.
A clumsy back pass from the Roar then saw Labinot Haliti one-on-one with the ‘keeper 20 metres from the goal. Theo managed to dive to his left and deflect a powerful shot to safety.
The pressure clearly told on Berisha, who had a typical blowup after a clash with LaRocca halfway through the first period.
Defence was the word in the first period of extra time, with both teams managing to get through unscathed. Fatigue was sure to be a factor moving into the final 15. There was no doubt that Western Sydney had the better of it.
Three minutes into the second period of extra time, it was Roar substitute Henrique who stepped up and took the grand final into his own hands. A cross found its way to his feet, 10 metres from the goal, and the little Brazilian took a touch, thought about it, and smashed it into the top of the net.
It proved enough.
A late chance to Tomi Juric went straight into the hands of Theo, and Brisbane were home.
Brisbane won their third A-League title, and consigned a devastated Wanderers side to their second grand final loss in as many years.
Iacopo LaRocca and Thomas Broich shared man-of-the-match honours, but it will taste that much sweeter to the German, who enjoys his third A-League title victory.
And everyone in The Den lose their mind… pic.twitter.com/xGaPaPJd8O
— Richard Bayliss (@RichBaylissFOX) May 4, 2014
More A-League grand final coverage:
– Comment: Mike Tuckerman
– Roar revel in Suncorp success
– Football is here to stay in Australia
– Brisbane puts on a great A-League final
– Mulvey: Roar now A-League benchmark
– The Roar‘s live blog
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
Haha. Since when did basketball ever have Australia's greatest sports participation rate? Any evidence to back up your statement?
Blaze
Guest
You do realise that the bex slogan is common knowledge and not only known and broadcasted by yourself and Eddie don't you? Apart from the fact I already admitted that it wasn't what I was meaning to write, I'm well aware of the product and my grandparents are no longer with us, so get down of your high horse and stop pretending your superior to others champ... In my world your nothing... Keep that in mind.
Slane
Guest
Nobody is being sensitive big fella. Relax. If you didn't hear Eddie say it(2 or 3 weeks ago) is it a saying you picked up from your grandparents? It's funny that I've seen three people who don't know what a Bex is write the slogan for it since Eddie said it. He obviously has a way to influence people who don't even listen to him.
Steve
Guest
Quoting the Courier Mail I guess coutns as scientific research. I'd be confident in saying I know as much about football (and as little about AFL) as you. And I also have a brain, which I use to think critically. First things first, again that article says "COULD". Broadcast reach and actual viewing figures are worlds apart. Like I said, the broadcast reach of Vietnamese news programming at 2am on SBS is basically the entire population of Australia. Actually viewing figures are probably a couple of thousand, if that (i.e. 10,000 x less than reach). Similarly, this match may have been potentially broadcast on Pay-TV channels globally. That does not mean anyone will watch it, just like it means 20 million people did not watch the UCL Semi Finals on SBS. Again, use your brain. The 250 million figure is very misleading and has been widely quoted. All it does is make the FFA and A-League look unnecessarily desperate, which it does not need to be. You can continue believing this garbage for all I care - but don't think for one moment that makes you a more knowledgeable or 'better' football fan.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/football/over-250-million-people-expected-to-tune-in-to-aleague-grand-final-on-television/story-fnk6pqhe-1226902635236 So you are an expert on world football now. You know nothing about world football and can only criticise and be negative. Go back to doing the crosswords and making coffees in your job at the AFL Media Department. :)
Sailosi
Guest
I love the 250 million figure. We've had this debate so many times before. We all need to refer back to an article from the Guardian in England in 2007, I can't be bothered finding it now but an English journo decided to work out the 10 most watched sporting events in the world that year and found that the figures in all sports were stupidly overrated. From memory the top 6 was the Super Bowl with a worldwide audience of 119 million, Brazilian Grand Prix 93 million, Champions League Final 84 million, FA cup final 72 million, Rugby World Cup final 37 million and the cricket World Cup final 26 million. Anyway the A-League can produce a grand final. Has there been a bad one yet. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Steve
Guest
Stop with the 250 million nonsense. Every report written about this has the word "could". 20 million people "could' watch the vietnamese news on SBS at 2am, but they don't. Ratings will be about 300-400k on Fox. Maybe that again on SBS. Where does the other 249 million people come from? What the whole of Japan is watching the A-League GF because a player who used to play for the national side is playing in it? It's beyond ridiculous that the media is allowing this figure to continue to float. I'm as big a fan as any of the A-League, but throwing around these baseless claims does nothing to enhance the credibility of the league. You really think the sponsors of the game believe this figure?
Blaze
Guest
I did mean beer, stupid predictive text, but bex will work too if that's what floats your boat slane... Sorry champ, I avoid listening to Eddie as much as possible... Gez didn't realise ppl were that sensitive.. I guess 40's is the new 25 these days..
slane
Guest
Basketball had the biggest participation rate in the 90's. Personally I think participation numbers are over rated. There could be 20million people playing soccer on the weekend but it means nothing if none of them bother supportong the A-League
Titus
Guest
I thought he meant, have a beer and a lie down.
slane
Guest
It's spelled Bex. Did you just hear Eddie Macguire say that or are you old enough to remember what a Bex is?
Steve
Guest
Please stop with this 250m audience number. 1m (at a stretch) is closer to the mark
The Minister
Guest
Nice Photo!
Shadow
Roar Rookie
And what an atmosphere it was! As a Sydney FC supporter it was great seeing those Wanderers fans shot down. Would have been even better if Brisbane scored while they were Poznaning. They went close in the 80th haha
Shadow
Roar Rookie
Great day in the history of Brisbane Roar. A fair chunk of those 40,000 queenslanders would be rugby league fans as well, same with the Wanderers contingent. People lets just accept that no sport is going to defeat another. Let us all unite - and bring down the AFL ;)
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
All sports have their attractions James and State of Origin Rubby Leeg is indeed very popular, but the FFA and the A-League has had its great day in the sun watched by 250 million people around the world. We can now look forward to the ECL, EPL, FIFA World Cup, ACL and Asian Cup. Lots to enjoy there compared to 1 or 2 SoO games at Lang Park every year.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
From a Sydney perspective, I was hoping for a WSW v Victory grand final in Sydney, thrashing the Vics and WSW's first A-League Championship - not to be. It would have given WSW a better chance, because only one team, SFC has ever won an away A-League Grand Final and that was after extra time and penalties. If it would have been played at ANZ Stadium, surely a record A-League crowd.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
Depend what you mean by "biggest". Football has by far the biggest participation rate for any football code in the country and the grand final was reportedly shown in 57 countries around the world to an estimated live audience of 250 million people, which is something the other codes can only dream of.
Mr Sportsbet
Roar Rookie
Today in the Den was an absolutely amazing experience that I will never forget. What an awesome day!
Red wire-Blue wire
Guest
As a WSW supporter, I was at the game today and was left scratching my head as to where 'we' went wrong. I think the game changed when Topor-Standley went off injured. We had no central defender on the bench and had to shuffle the midfield so that LaRocca moved to central defence. Up till then, he was bossing the midfield. When Mooy came on, he couldn't finish what LaRocca had started. From there, Brisbane won the midfield and eventually the game. In short, taking Ono off wasn't Popovic's mistake. I thought it was not having a Beauchamp or a Heffernan on the subs bench that was the mistake. Having said all that, it was a great game to watch.