Brisbane Roar coach Frans Thijssen believed senseless goal-hungry attack at the expense of good organisation in the dying moments terminated his team’s bid for back-to-back Hyundai A-League titles in gripping 2-1 loss to Adelaide United in Friday’s Elimination Final at Adelaide Oval.
As the second half progressed, the Roar looked increasingly threatening and the more likely side to break the hour-long 1-1 deadlock.
But instead of patiently waiting for the right moment, even if it meant getting the job done in extra time, Brisbane, with a heap of momentum and an attack-first mentality, forgot to look after business at the other end with some loose defence allowing Awer Mabil to score the clincher three minutes from regulation.
MATCH REPORT: Adelaide United 2-1 Brisbane Roar
“The way you lose the game, just before full-time, our corner, everybody’s thinking scoring goals instead of look for good organisation,” Thijssen lamented.
“They (Adelaide) came out with three or four players (in the area) and we were too late.
“It cost us the game and it’s disappointing.
“We were not awake when it happened in our corner.
“We had chances to win it but in the end we are looking too much to go (ahead) 2-1 instead of being clever and well organised and keeping the 1-1 until the end.”
For Thijssen, whose attention now turns to this Wednesday’s AFC Champions League clash with J-League powerhouse Urawa Red Diamonds at Robina Stadium, his side’s 2014-15 A-League campaign was one that never quite got rolling after a terrible start.
The Roar were sitting dead-last after five weeks and at no stage this season did the defending champions rise higher than sixth, ultimately only owing their finals participation to the expulsion of Perth Glory for salary cap breaches.
Brisbane enjoyed spasmodic cameos where the old magic was present and they were far from disgraced and won many admirers with the fight they showed against United in the cut-throat final, but they always seemed destined to fall short this season.
“It was always difficult from the beginning because we had three points after five games so it was a big gap to the top,” Thijjsen said.
“We had a great run in the middle of the season.
“The (period of) 10 days where we had to play four games was a bad spell with players gone, players injured and not many players to choose (from) … that was a difficult time.
“It’s been a difficult season. We got to the playoffs and it’s sad to go out in the first round.”
