Thomas Broich revealed a fiery half-time atmosphere in the Roar dressing room was the catalyst for his side’s startling come-from-behind 2-1 win over Melbourne Victory in the Elimination Final on Friday night.
A relieved Broich praised his side’s never-say-die attitude but admitted that a poor first half almost came back to haunt John Aloisi’s side at Suncorp Stadium.
Brisbane struggled to adapt to Victory’s aggressive pressing and were fortunate to go into the break on level terms with Victory firing 10 shots on goal to 0 in a dominant display.
“At half time a few of the boys really blew up, just saying this was really unacceptable,” Broich told reporters post-game.
“The coach kept his cool, told us a few things. We knew we had to drastically change things for the second half.
“It wasn’t us. We couldn’t hang onto the ball for more than one or two passes.
“Even the technically most gifted players in the team kept giving it away for fun.
“I don’t know how this can happen in a game of this importance. It did happen but the important thing for me was that we showed a reaction.”
MATCH REPORT: Roar march on after stunning late comeback
HIGHLIGHTS: Late flurry of goals in Elimination thriller
ANALYSIS: Broich delivered when it mattered most for Roar
The hosts were on the brink of elimination after ex-Roar talisman Besart Berisha fired Victory in front with less than five minutes remaining.
But a quick-fire equaliser from Matt McKay got the hosts on level terms before Broich popped up with virtually the last play of the game to bury a header and send the Roar into the final four.
Roar gradually grew into the contest in the second stanza but Broich knows his side can ill-afford to give the Wanderers the same latitude at Pirtek Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
“We have to. The first half was really ordinary, really slow. We didn’t have that aggressiveness and bravery,” he said.
“I think that second half still wasn’t great but at least it was an even contest. As the game went on we slowly started to push them deeper and got on top of them that little bit.
“For us it’s important to not slip again. We almost slipped in the first half and if we truly want to be contestants for another trophy then we can’t have that again.”
Brisbane will travel to Wanderland with redemption in mind after a Shinji Ono inspired Wanderers knocked the Roar out of the finals at the same venue in 2013.
It was a game in which the Japanese talisman scored an unbelievable goal.
Broich revealed that match was still firmly on his mind and hopes this weekend’s semi-final can replicate the incredible atmosphere of the Wanderers’ inaugural campaign.
“I’m really looking forward to that one. We played there three years ago and lost the semi-final to them.
“It was unbelievable. It was the first time I think we’ve had a European atmosphere in Australian football, at least in my time here and hopefully we get exactly that again.”
