Don’t ever question Besart Berisha. The A-League legend scored an outrageous winner when his team needed him most to set up two classic semi-finals.
Just when you thought it was all over for Berisha, who has been out of sorts all season and was on the verge of being substituted last night, he goes and pulls you back in.
Or more specifically, he pulls Melbourne Victory into a mouth-watering semi-final showdown with Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium next Saturday night.
And his goal was one of the most spectacular in A-League finals history.
In truth, Berisha has been a shadow of his former self for much of the campaign, and it looked like that streak would continue on another quiet night for the Kosovo international.
But when Kosta Barbarouses floated a ball towards the six-yard box, it just had to be Berisha to convert with an outrageous bicycle kick.
And didn’t the Victory fans celebrate it in style?
They may be unloved by fans of the other nine A-League clubs, but it’s hard to argue that Victory supporters don’t produce the best atmosphere in the competition.
And they had AAMI Park positively thrumming on Sunday evening – even if high ticket prices kept some fans away.
Sunday’s clash with Adelaide United was a slow burn to start, but by the time Nikola Mileusnic burst through from a quickly-taken free-kick, Victory knew they were in for a fight.
It was their most effective player this season in Leroy George who headed them back into the contest, but plenty of credit should also go to Barbarouses – who finished the game with two vital assists.
And if Victory lose George in the off-season because of salary cap constraints, questions must be asked of what Football Federation Australia plans to do to help keep such exciting attacking talents in the A-League.
As it stands, Victory march on to a semi-final showdown with their bitter rivals Sydney FC in front of what should be a big crowd at Allianz Stadium.
And Melbourne City travel to the Hunter to take on the Newcastle Jets at what will be a packed McDonald Jones Stadium.
City were ruthlessly efficient in dispatching Brisbane Roar 2-0 on Friday night, as individual errors came back to haunt John Aloisi’s team.
Roar defender Jack Hingert should have simply cleared the ball just before the hour mark, only to attempt to turn out of danger and lose possession to Bruno Fornaroli.
The Uruguayan them ambled into the box to tee up Stefan Mauk to produce an excellent finish, and in truth it was no less than a dominant City deserved.
Hingert could have redeemed himself when he scuffed a shot wide soon after, before Nick Fitzgerald’s powerful header ended the game as contest as City booked their third semi-final appearance in four years.
And what an intriguing clash it will be against a Newcastle side that finished the season with three defeats from its last four games.
Will that be enough to dampen spirits in the Hunter? Of course not.
Tickets are flying out the door for Friday night’s semi-final, with the Jets making their first return to the finals series since the 2009-10 season.
And the clash between one of the A-League’s genuine battlers and the nouveau riche of City makes for a fascinating subplot.
It’s just a shame there weren’t a few more fans in attendance this weekend – and yet again FFA deserve a spotlight shone on their decision-making.
When the elimination finals could have been played out against the backdrop of heaving stands, the high cost of many the tickets on offer no doubt saw plenty of fans opt to stay home and watch on TV instead.
Here’s hoping the ratings on Fox Sports and One were decent.
And we’re fortunate the football was something to write home about as well.
These are the semi-finals the A-League had to have, and they can’t come quickly enough.
realfootball
Guest
Broich was 29, two years younger. In a footballers life, a significant difference. And yes, I do love watching those two play. But there's no getting away for the extent SFC, and those two players, were found out in the ACL.
Lionheart
Guest
was an also ran at Phoenix, was made at Roar. Besides Nemesis, it's irrelevant where MV sign their players, they're still former Roar boys.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Kanga “In the end football iis in the entertainment industry” .... no it’s not, that’s Gallop like thinking - it’s a sporting competition with entertainment as a bye-product. Gallop & Co need to respect that principle.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
I just wanted to double check the point Michael was making about the Swans, and note that their two first home games for the current season drew 34,636 and 34,711 respectively, which is probably better than I would have thought. I don't know how consistent the Swans are in getting such numbers, although I note last season their home average was 33,398. I know the Swans have been pretty strong for a decade or so, that would come into it.
AR
Guest
I loved the re-entry onto the Roar: Nemesis: “oh hello, I’m new to this site, having been living in Eastern Europe for many years. I must say, I like this ALeague, and these Aussie Rulers seem like total dimwits...” Brilliant. Before that he had a host of creative pseudonyms he’d use. And yet...he still he has desperate little defenders like and chris et al. Wonderful stuff.
Michael Mills
Guest
Perhaps that’s true. I think it’s still worth exploring how they’ve been able to engage with the community, because there are potentially a lot of similarities in the supporter demographics. People associate Sydney FC with an eastern suburbs image (similar to the Roosters), even though the majority of the fans are from the Inner West and the St George area, and they train at Macquarie Uni (nowhere near the east for those who don’t know the geography). Partly this due to the early ‘Bling FC marketing’, which I believe was a mistake. People don’t have the same perception of the Swans.
chris
Guest
Michael the Swans crowds reflect that they are the only AFL game in town. (GWS don't rate at all up here). I'm not being critical but its just the way it is. Football has A-League and NPL (a few divisions) that attract people to go and watch. And countless other ways to get your football fix. Instead of talking Swans averages why don't people talk about total AFL attendances versus total football attendances?
chris
Guest
Punter you said exactly what I was going to say. Its Mr HalfGlassEmpty striking again with his negative falsehoods.
Sam
Guest
That was when only the top 4 made it to the playoffs,unlike current system.
pacman
Guest
Played 33 matches for Brisbane Roar from 2010 to 2012.
Michael Mills
Guest
I don’t know the answer to that. The much discussed factors like traffic, time slots, ticket prices all will have some impact, although they’re also used as excuses. There’s plenty of things the club could be much better at, such as community engagement and promoting matches. The club should be doing a lot more to get involved with the junior associations. But, I also don’t know why people expect Sydney to have 40,000 every week. For two reasons: 1) The notional ‘catchment’ area for the club has about two million people (give or take). I’d have to do more research, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the attendance figures are fairly comparable to other similarly sized areas during their club’s successful seasons. 2) The only team that really draws those kind of numbers in Sydney is the Swans, so theyre really not that far off the general attendance patterns of the city at large. I certainly think Sydney FC should be looking into how the Swans have managed to build such a strong community despite them not commanding a particularly strong share of voice in the Sydney media. They’ve also built a strong reputation over the past 15 years.
punter
Guest
Winning years BR 2010/11 12K attendances BR 11/12 15K BR 13/14 18K SFC 16/17 18K SFC 17/18 15K Ave A-League 11K, in the year is in the doldrums. lets not get facts in the way Realnegativefootball
punter
Guest
I think he was the first season he played, same age as Ninko & Mierzejewski when they both played started in the A-League, if they are aging journeymen so is Broich. You just need to watch SFC a bit more closely & not compare it with the poor teams they play against, I don't recall BR with Broich doing too well in the ACL neither. I fully understand your hatred for SFC, winning everything, big city arrogance, GA gets up your nose, especially as with an inferior team, he stopped BR from doing the double double & nearly stopped them doing a double at all, but watch how these 2 play, they are as good as we have seen in the A-league.
fadida
Guest
Your silence says it all
Hughster
Guest
Back on the Berisha thing........say what you want about declining form, past glories etc, as a Sydney FC fan he is the one striker in the league I do not want to be opposing in a sudden death final. The bloke's record in big games speaks for itself and he demands respect.
realfootball
Guest
So where are your crowds then. Why have SFC struggled to get more than 10k to a game this season. All those trophies and SCF is 3/4 empty, game after game. Something isn't working. People aren't coming to see SFC play, and if it isn't the trophies, because your cup surely runneth over, it must be the football. Or can you propose another interpretation? Roar supporters know full well why supporters aren't going to Suncorp. The team is full of geriatrics playing horrible football. So what is it about SFC?
realfootball
Guest
So how are your crowd figures then? All that silverware and Arnie's style bringing them in the droves one would expect? Or not. Sure as hell something isn't working there. And it if isn't a lack of trophies, what is it?
realfootball
Guest
He def was in the last season he played, punter. Mind you, this season the Roar have outdone your in that regard, well and truly. Brisbane Resthome Roar. Can't see MV upsetting your guys. Who are you picking out of Jets and City?
BigAl
Guest
Now what has Straya done here to warrant this venomous tirade ?
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Well, if he actually lived in Eastern Europe for nine years, I must be....