Get ready for a sensational Saturday at Suncorp as the Hyundai A-League’s two best sides do battle again.
Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners
Saturday 31st March, 4.30pm
Get ready for a sensational Saturday at Suncorp as the Hyundai A-League’s two best sides do battle again.
Here we go again. The big hitters of the Hyundai A-League are going head-to-head once more and, judging by the previous clashes between these sides, they are sure to serve up an absolute thriller over two legs.
We’ve been here before, of course. A year ago, the two teams faced each other at this stage and again in the Grand Final. Brisbane picked up a 2-0 win in New South Wales, before securing a home Grand Final with a draw in the second leg.
The Mariners had to do it the hard way after that, but still fought their way through to that incredible, all-deciding tussle at Suncorp Stadium.
Neither Roar nor the Central Coast need reminding of what happened in that jaw-dropping Grand Final clash. It was an astonishing football match and, while the closing few minutes have gone down in Brisbane folklore, the Mariners will be desperate to finally get revenge for the heartbreak they suffered.
They’ve already taken the Premiers’ Plate and now have the double in their sites. So, Roar fans, it’s up to you to make the kind of atmosphere that will spur your side on to a victory that will stand them in good stead when they travel to Gosford next week. Get vocal and get behind your team as they look to retain their remaining piece of silverware.
With the Mariners having already secured the Premiers’ Plate, Ange Postecoglou had the luxury of resting six players for the relatively meaningless match-up with local rivals Gold Coast United last Sunday.
Matthew Smith, Ivan Franjic, Mohamed Adnan, Mitch Nichols, Thomas Broich and Michael Theoklitos were all given a night off and yet, pleasingly, the former Premiers still managed to take the win back to Brisbane.
A young side showed that the future is bright for Roar, as they managed a confident victory despite falling behind in the first-half. A strike on the hour from Nick Fitzgerald and an injury-time finish from George Lambadaridis meant that Brisbane finished the season in style.
The reason that Roar were able to blood some youngsters is because Central Coast Mariners got the all-important victory in Wellington earlier that day.
Graham Arnold’s men knew that it was a game they simply had to win or else they would have left the door open for Brisbane to sneak in and steal the prize. They set about their task brilliantly, powering into a two-goal lead thanks to strikes from John Sutton and Bernie Ibini either side of the interval.
A late Leo Bertos’ free-kick caused some nervy closing stages, but the away side held out and finally sealed the title after having led the ladder for much of this engaging and exciting Hyundai A-League season.
The new Premiers are heading to Brisbane with their eyes on the Championship. Can Roar send them packing with defeat and, in doing so, put themselves in a good position for the return leg?
Get a ticket for your home game today and find out, as two quality sides go all out for the victory. Expect fine football and no end of commitment from these two class acts. It’s going to be epic.
