Young midfielder Samuel Klein scored his second brace of the season to complete Brisbane Roar’s 2-1 comeback win over Central Coast Mariners at Industree Group Stadium on Friday night.
The Mariners led early thanks to Arthur De Lima’s third-minute strike before 21-year-old Klein wrestled back momentum in favour of the Roar in Gosford.
The 21-year-old took his season tally to five goals with Friday night’s brace – the most of any Roar player this season – as Brisbane recorded their third win in four games amid a four-game unbeaten run to end the 2024-25 campaign.
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Klein’s two-goal performance saw the young midfielder jump above Asumah Abubakar and Thomas Waddingham to finish the season as Brisbane’s top scorer with five goals scored from midfield.
Joining Network 10’s post-game broadcast, Klein was told of his Golden Boot accomplishment at the club – a pleasant surprise for a player who credited head coach Ruben Zadkovich for getting the best out of him amid a dream breakout season.
“Honestly, if you told me at the start of the season when I first joined the club, I wouldn’t have believed you,” an elated Klein told Network 10.
“I wanted to come in, I wanted to play minutes, I believed in myself, and I had a coach who believed in me, a coaching staff who believed in me.
“It wasn’t always easy, I wasn’t playing so much at the start, but I’ve started 13 or 14 now towards the end of the season, which I’m super grateful to Ruben and Coyney (assistant coach Chris Coyne) for. They showed trust in me, and having the confidence of your coach behind you, it just allowed me to play my game and do anything I want on the field.”
Zadkovich was next up on Network 10’s broadcast, and as footage of a beaming Klein celebrating with his teammates came up on the screen in front of him, the Roar head coach summed up what it meant to see a young Queenslander shine at the club.
“That’s everything for me: watching players like that go and fulfil their dreams,” Zadkovich said.
“To be a part of their journey is amazing.”
The Roar had won just two games heading into the final four rounds of the season but collected 10 of their 21 points in victories over the Mariners, Western United and Wellington Phoenix and a draw against Adelaide United to end 2024-25 on a high note.
As for the Mariners, Friday’s defeat to Brisbane ended a disappointing title defence from the reigning Champions. Mark Jackson’s side sit 10th after the first game of Round 29 but could drop down to 11th if Wellington Phoenix defeat Perth Glory on Sunday.
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Both sides exchanged blows in the first half but it was the Mariners who struck first, as teenager De Lima bagged his third A-Leagues goal with just two minutes on the clock.
De Lima made a smart run into the box to meet a Bailey Brandtman cross and his strong header flew past Roar keeper Matt Acton in no time as the Mariners raced into an early lead.
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But just 15 minutes later, Brisbane got back on level terms as Sam Klein continued his purple patch of form with a similarly clinical header to De Lima’s.
Antonee Burke-Gilroy’s cross from out wide invited Klein to attack space in the Mariners’ defensive box and the 21-year-old buried his glancing header into the bottom-right corner.
Highly-rated Mariners teenager Haine Eames almost produced a spectacular second goal for the hosts just beyond the half-hour mark but his volley from outside the box was pushed off target by Acton as the first half ended with Central Coast and Brisbane locked level at 1-1.
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From 1-0 down, Brisbane claimed a 2-1 advantage shortly after half-time as Klein bagged his second goal of the game from an attacking Roar corner.
Klein’s second brace of the season took his goal tally to five for the 2024-25 campaign; the young Roar midfielder went goalless through his first 11 appearances of the season but has scored five goals in eight games in a late purple patch of form.
“He finds really good positions, this young lad,” said Brisbane Roar legend Erik Paartalu on the Network 10 Broadcast.
“It’s just about his aggression. For a young kid, who is getting stuck in at the halfway line, getting into tackles, he really wants it. It’s great to see another player getting on the end of things – that’s what Brisbane Roar have been lacking.”
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Mariners young gun Eames did his best to inspire a comeback with yet another powerful effort from distance but the late attempt rattled the post, as Brisbane claimed all three points in what was their third win in four games to end the 2024-25 season.
