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Opinion
Upsets in knockout competitions are one of the reasons we love football.
Who can forget Thomas Love’s run to score the winner for Adelaide City against the Western Sydney Wanderers in the first ever Cup-set several years ago, or Adelaide United’s woeful performance in an extra time defeat against QNPL side Redlands United?
While those results were diabolical, they have since been overshadowed by Brisbane Roar’s shock loss in the semi-finals against Sydney United 58.
The same Sydney United 58 finished eighth in the NSW NPL this season, which included a 6-1 loss to the Sydney FC Youth team.
Regardless of what you may feel towards sections of their fan base, for a semi-professional club to make it through to the showpiece deserves credit.
Brisbane led twice in the match, only to cruelly lose 3-2 in extra time.
They had twice as many shots, over 60 per cent possession, missed a penalty and an embarrassing air swing at a likely goal that would leave many Sunday pub-league players blushing.
However, a deeper dive into how the highly fancied side threw this game away is needed.
For context, Brisbane are deep into their preseason, while United 58’s season finished some weeks ago. This part of preseason can be particularly gruelling, even for seasoned professionals.
It’s not unusual for players to really start feeling the toll and legginess in matches due to this, as seen by Brisbane’s opponents, Adelaide, in the quarter-final clash.
United 58’s Edensor Park does have an intimidating feel to it, the supporters group can be passionate, letting opposing players know when they’ve made a mistake.
Patrick Antelmi of Sydney United 58 FC celebrates scoring a goal. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
The Roar are also yet to play their first-choice defence, with players shuffling in and out of the infirmary ward almost at a weekly interval.
Manager Warren Moon is not the type to unload verbally on his playing group after a loss against a semi-professional side. But he will start to see the good will he’s been afforded due to his work with young players evaporate if he is unable to implement the right philosophy and tactics.
Moon has an overall win percentage of 35 per cent since taking over from Robbie Fowler. His recruitment, player selection and tactics have left even the most hardcore supporters frustrated and bemused.
if Brisbane miss out on playing finals football in season 2022-23, there is every chance he will sacked – especially since he was lucky to retain his position after the side finished second to bottom last season.
Big-money recruit Charlie Austin has been used bizarrely on Australian soil, regularly collecting the ball from deep -rather than being perched in the box to finish a move, which was his bread and butter during his career in England.
There is energy, pace and skill in wide positions, as well as creativity in the middle of the park.
While defensively Brisbane has a good mix of youth and experience, Moon needs to decide on his first-choice goalkeeper. The club have also had to deal with the ‘Corey Brown’ problem that has lingered since January.
With four of their first five matches at home, Brisbane would be expecting a good return of goals and points and could be classed as a dark horse for this upcoming season.
However, if they start poor, the blowtorch will be further increased on Moon.
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