Roar 4 Mariners 2
Brisbane Roar staged a remarkable comeback to win the A-League grand final on penalties over a heartbroken Central Coast at Suncorp Stadium yesterday.
With four minutes left in extra time, the Mariners had control of the match leading 2-0, but the Roar came back through a goal to Henrique before midfield enforcer Erik Paartalu headed home a corner off the last play before fulltime.
Goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos was the hero in the penalty shootout with brilliant saves from attempts by Danny McBreen and Pedj Bojic.
The Roar eventually won the shootout 4-2 in front of a club-record crowd of 50,168 to extend their record unbeaten streak to 28 matches.
The sensational finale was a shattering blow for the Mariners, who had one hand on the trophy after Adam Kwasnik and Oliver Bozanic scored two goals in the first period of extra time.
The match had gone to extra time after a scoreless but gripping 90-minute tussle at a packed Suncorp Stadium.
Premiers and favourites Brisbane took control in the second half but Mariners goalkeeper Matt Ryan stood tall with a series of clutch saves.
Ryan's best came early in the second half with the rain pouring down when he managed to block a blazing shot by Costa Rican striker Jean Carlos Solorzano.
While the Mariners had a fair share of chances before halftime, it was all Brisbane in the second section of regular time, the Roar finishing the opening 90 minutes with eight shots on goal to two.
Paartalu, awarded with the goal of the season at the A-League awards night last week, rated his dramatic equaliser as the best of his career.
"I can't even remember what happened now, whether it came off my face or my head ... it couldn't feel any better," he told Fox Sports.
The holding midfielder admitted he was as stunned as anybody at his team's escape act.
"To be honest, I gave up hope and I thought it was one of those days," he said.
"Full credit to these boys for coming back at the death.
"We dominated for most of the first part of the game and you have to give credit to Central Coast, they took their chances which we didn't."
Skipper Matt McKay struggled to come to terms with the "unbelievable" and "incredible" victory but Theoklitos credited his captain for inspiring the Roar at the extra-time break.
"Two-nil down with 15 minutes to go and Matty McKay pulled us together and said 'there's 15 minutes to go and how many times have we scored two goals in the last 15 minutes?'," the keeper said.
"Full credit to these boys, we had a bit of luck but we deserved it.
"You never doubt this team, they always fight back."
- AAP
