Brisbane Roar beat the Central Coast Mariners 4-2 on penalties following a 2-2 tie in the A- League grand final to win its first Australian soccer title. The match had gone to extra time after a scoreless but gripping 90-minute tussle at a packed Suncorp Stadium. Brisbane took control in the second half with eight shots on goal to two, but Mariners goalkeeper Matt Ryan stood tall with a series of clutch saves.

 

Trailing 2-0 to the Central Coast Mariners in extra time, Brisbane Roar's dreams of capping off their record-breaking season in the right way were all but dashed, however captain Matt McKay never lost faith that Brisbane could fight back from two goals down and told his team that in a stirring speech at the extra time break. "No one can tell me that you can't score two goals in 15 minutes of football," he said. "I told them that and they believed ... and it happened." First it was Henrique in the 117th minute, whose clinical strike cut the Mariners' lead and then Erik Paartalu sent the crowd of 50,168 into raptures when he headed home the Roar's equaliser in the final 60 seconds to ensure penalties would be needed to find a winner.

 

It was then Brisbane goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos's turn to take centre stage, saving spot kicks from Daniel McBreen and Pedj Bojic to ensure the Roar prevailed 4-2 in the shootout and claim the A-League premiership-championship double. The Roar were faultless from the penalty spot, with Ivan Franjic, Paartalu, skipper Matt McKay and Henrique all converting as Brisbane extended its record unbeaten streak to 28 games. For Roar coach Ange Postecoglou, it was his fifth grand final success from five attempts, having won four deciders, two as a player and two as a coach with South Melbourne in the old NSL. “At one stage, we looked down and out, we’ve had an absolutely extraordinary season and I should’ve expected an extraordinary finish.”

 

• Official HAL 2010/11 Ball
• Personally signed by the Championship winning Brisbane Roar squad
• Presented in a Perspex casing
• Limited Edition of 25 only

Price: $695 Basic Perspex Case or $895 with Timber and Suede Base.