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FUCK YEAH GRAND FINAL
Mar. 13th, 2011 11:00 pmYou guys. YOU GUYS. THE A-LEAGUE GRAND FINAL WAS AMAZING.
There were only three and a half bad things, and I will get them out of the way now. 1) Sars sadly had to pike, 2) the salt on my chips was weirdly sweet, almost? very strange, 3) there was too much ice in my drink and it was cold and 31/2) it was a nailbiting game, omg, so stressful.
I was going for Brisbane Roar, since Heart were not in the finals. Roar have had an amazing season - they lost once, to Victory, in September, and then went on to set a record breaking 27 games unbeaten going into the final. They have played some very beautiful football and have made a massive leap forward this season. They totally deserved to win.
Suncorp was packed, a little over 50,000 people and a sea of orange, plus a stripe of yellow where 2000 Central Coast Mariners fans had made the pilgrimage. It was nice to see, and a little amazing that so many people turned up.1
Central Coast came out firing, and had the advantage over a subdued Roar, with several excellent chances over the next 20 or so minutes (iirc). Central Coast definitely coped a lot better with the grand final pressure, all through the game - Roar struggled with it for much of the match. It's a testament to how well they play that their off game still looked so nice. Roar dominated for much of the middle half of the match, but seemed quite hesitant when it came to shooting at goal. Towards the end of the 90 minutes, the game sort of slowed down, and it seemed extra time was inevitable.
Sure enough, extra time it was. (Extra time is two 15 minute halves; these play out regardless of whether or not a goal is shot. Following extra time is the penalty shootouts.) Central Coast came out firing, and looked the better side. This was backed up by a goal from Kwasnik in the 96th minute, at which point it seemed unlikely Roar would manage to get back in the game, followed by a goal from Bozanic in the 103rd minute, making it seem almost certain Central Coast would win. I was all, D: and the Brisbane crowd was flat and quiet. I was hoping for at least one goal, however unlikely, to at least salvage something for Brisbane. And then! in the 117th minute (with time running out after 120 minutes) Henrique got a goal. The crowd went completely wild. Could Roar do the impossible? Less then 3 minutes remained, and they had taken 117 minutes to get the first one. And then, miraculously, a goal from Paartalu in the 120th minute. Roar had grabbed the game from Central Coast, and it would be decided in penalties. It was anyone's game.
The first four shots all went in, and it was tied 2 all. And then Theoklitos stopped the third Mariners shot, and then the forth, and Roar scored twice more. So Roar won 4-2 on penalties and it was an amazing final with a fairytale ending. I do feel sad for the Mariners, who had an excellent game and looked so likely to win until just before the end, but I am happier that Roar won.
Full score:
Full time:
Central Coast Mariners 0
Brisbane Roar 0
Extra time:
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Kwasnik 96, Bozanic 103)
Brisbane Roar 2 (Henrique 117, Paartalu 120)
Penalties:
Brisbane: 4 (Franjic, Paartalu, McKay, Henrique)
Central Coast: 2 (Hutchinson, Wilkinson)
Captain Matt McKay celebrating. Several players credited him with the inspiration they needed to get back into the game. A fitting end to a great year for him. Also, he is totally precious and was super happy, it was adorable.
1 There has been some debate about whether we should have a finals series since other leagues (ie the EPL) just have the ladder, and if you're on the top when the season finishes, you are the best, the end. But it's hard to argue with 50,000 people paying to have the game marketed to them.
There were only three and a half bad things, and I will get them out of the way now. 1) Sars sadly had to pike, 2) the salt on my chips was weirdly sweet, almost? very strange, 3) there was too much ice in my drink and it was cold and 31/2) it was a nailbiting game, omg, so stressful.
I was going for Brisbane Roar, since Heart were not in the finals. Roar have had an amazing season - they lost once, to Victory, in September, and then went on to set a record breaking 27 games unbeaten going into the final. They have played some very beautiful football and have made a massive leap forward this season. They totally deserved to win.
Suncorp was packed, a little over 50,000 people and a sea of orange, plus a stripe of yellow where 2000 Central Coast Mariners fans had made the pilgrimage. It was nice to see, and a little amazing that so many people turned up.1
Central Coast came out firing, and had the advantage over a subdued Roar, with several excellent chances over the next 20 or so minutes (iirc). Central Coast definitely coped a lot better with the grand final pressure, all through the game - Roar struggled with it for much of the match. It's a testament to how well they play that their off game still looked so nice. Roar dominated for much of the middle half of the match, but seemed quite hesitant when it came to shooting at goal. Towards the end of the 90 minutes, the game sort of slowed down, and it seemed extra time was inevitable.
Sure enough, extra time it was. (Extra time is two 15 minute halves; these play out regardless of whether or not a goal is shot. Following extra time is the penalty shootouts.) Central Coast came out firing, and looked the better side. This was backed up by a goal from Kwasnik in the 96th minute, at which point it seemed unlikely Roar would manage to get back in the game, followed by a goal from Bozanic in the 103rd minute, making it seem almost certain Central Coast would win. I was all, D: and the Brisbane crowd was flat and quiet. I was hoping for at least one goal, however unlikely, to at least salvage something for Brisbane. And then! in the 117th minute (with time running out after 120 minutes) Henrique got a goal. The crowd went completely wild. Could Roar do the impossible? Less then 3 minutes remained, and they had taken 117 minutes to get the first one. And then, miraculously, a goal from Paartalu in the 120th minute. Roar had grabbed the game from Central Coast, and it would be decided in penalties. It was anyone's game.
The first four shots all went in, and it was tied 2 all. And then Theoklitos stopped the third Mariners shot, and then the forth, and Roar scored twice more. So Roar won 4-2 on penalties and it was an amazing final with a fairytale ending. I do feel sad for the Mariners, who had an excellent game and looked so likely to win until just before the end, but I am happier that Roar won.
Full score:
Full time:
Central Coast Mariners 0
Brisbane Roar 0
Extra time:
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Kwasnik 96, Bozanic 103)
Brisbane Roar 2 (Henrique 117, Paartalu 120)
Penalties:
Brisbane: 4 (Franjic, Paartalu, McKay, Henrique)
Central Coast: 2 (Hutchinson, Wilkinson)
Captain Matt McKay celebrating. Several players credited him with the inspiration they needed to get back into the game. A fitting end to a great year for him. Also, he is totally precious and was super happy, it was adorable.
1 There has been some debate about whether we should have a finals series since other leagues (ie the EPL) just have the ladder, and if you're on the top when the season finishes, you are the best, the end. But it's hard to argue with 50,000 people paying to have the game marketed to them.