The first edition of the ‘Aloisi Derby’ had everything on Friday night.
From two penalties, disallowed goals and then, a 91st-minute winner from Josh Risdon, saw John Aloisi take home bragging rights against his brother Ross at AAMI Park, as Western United came from behind to defeat Brisbane Roar – snapping a six=game losing streak.
But that wasn’t all, as John had to watch the final twenty-odd minutes from the stands, after receiving a red card following Daniel Penha’s disallowed goal.
The Western boss was initially given a yellow card for dissent following Jay O’Shea’s opener from the spot, but was handed a second for kicking an advertising hoarding when he was celebrating Penha’s would-be equaliser, which was chalked off due to offside.
MATCH REPORT: Captain’s late goal ends Western United’s losing streak in dramatic victory over Brisbane
“If I can’t show passion in the game – we’re trying to promote the game,” John Aloisi said.
“I’m not swearing at that stage. I’ve just run on to the field to celebrate a little bit and then I kicked the little advertising thing on the side and that’s emotion, frustration.
“I didn’t know the goal was disallowed. Mind you, I’m celebrating a little bit, in an angry face. Probably I could have gotten sent off before during the game for some of my antics, but not (that).
“Anyway, I have to deal with it, have to accept it.
“But it’s the emotion of the game, it’s the emotion of what we’ve been through in the last six games. And you know what? I’m not going to apologise for showing emotion.
“Sometimes emotions do come out… I don’t think that it should be a bad thing.
“Look, (A-Leagues) All Access, I’ve got this week so we might have to beep a few words out, that’s for sure!”
But the Western boss saw the lighter side of receiving his second yellow card.
“By the way it was with my right foot,” he said about kicking the advertising hoarding.
“If it had been my left foot then it would have been a real kick – it (the hoarding) would’ve ended up in the stands!”
The win takes Western off the foot of the table heading into the remainder of Round 8, leapfrogging Perth Glory into second last.
It also alleviated pressure off the shoulders of Aloisi and his playing group, who only a week before were hammered 4-0 by Central Coast Mariners, in a match that the Western boss described as the “worst” in his tenure as the club’s head coach.
“It was more a relief because the boys have deserved a lot more – that’s the relief,” he said.
“I can handle people criticising me because I’ve had it in the past and I’ll have it in the future. That’s going to happen. That’s part of our game.
“My belief never strayed at all and the players’ belief had never really gone. Again that showed tonight. It would have been easy for them to fold, 1-0 down, but they kept on going, kept on going and and so I’m just pleased for them.”
Friday’s contest was the first time two siblings had ever coached against each-other in the A-Leagues, with the two set to meet again on February 23 at Suncorp Stadium.
“The ones that would have probably felt proud… I don’t know if my dad did because he was at a Christmas party, but I don’t know who they would have been going for,” John said.
“It would have been a difficult moment for them because you’ve got two sons. One’s going to be happy, one’s going to be upset.
“To be honest, you’re so focused on your job and making sure your team performs and gets the result that you’re after and my brother would be exactly the same.
“I’ve analysed Brisbane Roar quite a lot because when I’m not watching my team play, I watch my brother’s team play because I want to see them win.
“My wife and daughter were here tonight and I could just imagine the rollercoaster they went through.”
Meanwhile, Ross’ Brisbane side fell to their first loss since Round 3 and only second of the campaign, missing a chance to go top of the table heading into the remainder of the weekend.
The Roar boss said he didn’t get caught up in the narrative of the contest, only focusing on what happened on the pitch.
“I’m going to be honest with you, this for me was another game. Brisbane Roar against another side,” he said.
“Yes, I understand that, it’s interesting because it’s definitely the first time in Australia… that two brothers coaching against one another.
“It means nothing to me. Absolutely nothing.
“Like I said, my brother’s my best friend. I love my brother. It’s a game of football that I’m coaching on another side.
“I can’t control what happens at other clubs. I can only control what happens at ours.”
