Soccer: 'I'd given up hope' Roar hero

Erik Paartalu. Photo / Getty Images

It will go down among the most thrilling soccer grand finals in Australian sporting history with even the man who delivered Brisbane Roar's escape act admitting he thought they were dead and buried.

Roar's tallest player Erik Paartalu headed home a corner from the last play of extra-time in Sunday night's A-League decider for an equaliser which sent the game to penalties at Suncorp Stadium.

Just four minutes earlier the premiers were 2-0 down against a resurgent Central Coast and staring the end of the record 27-match unbeaten streak in the face.

"To be honest, I gave up hope and I thought it was one of those days," said Paartalu, who rated his goal far sweeter than the brilliant final round volley against Gold Coast which won goal of the year.

"I can't even remember what happened now, whether it came off my face or my head ... it couldn't feel any better."

While Paartalu produced the pivotal moment of the match for the Roar and Mariners goalkeeper was a deserved man of the match, Brisbane stopper Michael Theoklitos was the hero in the penalty shootout.

With the penalties also locked at 2-2, Theoklitos produced a brilliant diving save to the left to deny Daniel McBreen before then parrying Pedj Bojic's shot over the cross bar.

"I love penalties," the former Melbourne Victory stopper said. "I love being in that situation."

Theoklitos credited captain Matt McKay for inspiring the Roar at the extra-time break to cap their dream season with a fairytale finish.

"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.

- AAP