As the full-time whistle confirmed a stunning 2-1 victory to Brisbane Roar over third-place Western United on Thursday night, Network 10 commentator Teo Pellizzeri aptly likened the result to a bomb being dropped on the top six.
“And the whistle goes. Brisbane Roar’s record wait for a win at home is over!” Pellizzeri said, as Brisbane – who were last before kick-off to the first game of Round 27 – celebrated their first home win in 410 days.
“Stop the clock at 12 games. Brisbane Roar have finally saluted in front of their home fans. Sweet relief, as they move off the foot of the table.
“They have detonated a bomb inside the top six, and it’s blown up under the feet of Western United!”
Brisbane were given next to no chance of defeating Western at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night, but defeat them they did in one of this season’s biggest upset results.
It was a result that deprived Western of second place on the table, and kept league-leading Auckland FC in with a chance of securing the Premiers Plate as early as Saturday evening.
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Now, five hours of football could decide the fate of the Premiership on a matchday that, thanks to Western’s shock loss to Brisbane, has become unmissable viewing.
Second-placed Melbourne City travel to face fourth-placed Western Sydney Wanderers in the hope of remaining in the hunt for top spot, after Auckland play Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park in the early Saturday kick-off.
Western United’s failure to capitalise on their chance to jump into second spot has blown the Finals Series race wide open.
Two top-six battles will take place in Round 27:
- Melbourne Victory (5th) v Auckland FC (1st): AAMI Park, Saturday, April 19 (5pm AEST)
- Western Sydney Wanderers (4th) v Melbourne City (2nd): CommBank Stadium, Saturday, April 19 (7.35pm AEST)
Both games on Saturday will be broadcast LIVE and FREE on 10 BOLD.
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By Saturday night, Auckland FC could be Premiers if Steve Corica’s side defeats Victory at AAMI Park, and the Wanderers beat City at CommBank Stadium, leaving the Black Knights seven points clear of City with just two games to play.
Alternatively, wins to Victory and Western Sydney could see Western drop from third to fifth by the end of the weekend, whilst keeping Auckland within reach of all four of the teams trailing them on the table with two rounds to play.
Having not won at home for 410 days, Brisbane orchestrated the unlikeliest of victories on Thursday night to light the fuse for a fascinating weekend of positional jostling inside the top six and at the very top of the table as the Premiers Plate begins to dangle invitingly toward Auckland’s clutches.
