Brisbane defeat Mariners in Grand Final re-match

Brisbane Roar kick-started their title defence in the best way possible with a 1-0 victory over last year’s runners-up, the Central Coast Mariners. 

In the much-anticipated Grand Final re-match both teams were out for nothing less than the win in Brisbane in front of the 13,467 strong, orange-clad crowd.

Central Coast had the first shot on goal when a half chance down-field from Brisbane was sent back up on the counter by Adrian Pellegrino who found Oliver Bozanic on the break on the right wing. Bozanic leaned back to put a well struck shot on goal, but it was successfully kept out by the goalkeeper, Michael Theoklitos. 

From there on in it was all Brisbane as wave after wave of attack hit the Mariners defence leading into the halftime break. With some patience in the midfield and a solid build up, Brisbane's Mitch Nichols was gifted two decent chances to put the orange and black in front. 

Theoklitos at last season's GF. Credit: Brisbane Roar / Peter Neville

The first near miss looked like a certain goal for the Roar. A beautiful inside pass from Canadian import Nakajima-Farran caught Nichols at full speed in front of the Mariners defence with just the keeper to beat. Nichols tried to go around Matthew Ryan but a slight tap from the ‘keeper’s right glove on Nichols' boot did just enough to put him off balance, resulting in the shot being sliced into the post. 

The second golden opportunity for Brisbane came off the ever-reliable Shane Stefanutto who crossed it in for Nichols to pounce on. But the No.17’s shot was too straight and was appropriately dealt with by Ryan. 

Ryan was impressing for the Mariners once again when a corner met the hard-working Besart Berisha who whipped his leg around in a crowded box, to get a shot on goal. Even though just a metre away, yet again, Ryan was there with quick reflexes to ensure the ball was kept out.

Matt Smith, who was in doubt for the clash having suffered back spasms during training just days before, had some cagey moments at the back in his first A-League outing as captain since taking over the armband from Rangers-bound Matt McKay. But the newly appointed captain redeemed himself with some beautiful last-line defence in the early stages of the second half, keeping out an on-target header from the Mariners’ Michael Baird.

The breakthrough for Brisbane finally came in the 72nd minute from the opportunistic Nichols, who off a deft pass from Ivan Franjic, took just two touches to bang the ball into the left corner of the net.

For most of the match the flat-footed Central Coast defence were playing catch-up against the deft one-two passing of Brisbane's Nakajima-Farran, Berisha, Broich and Nichols. The Mariners offense had its moments, but with little time in possession, their only chances were being produced on the counter led by Bozanic, Pellegrino, Baird and Joshua Rose.

The 1-0 win puts Brisbane in second spot on the A-League ladder and in perfect position to begin their quest to become the first back-to-back A-League champions.

Central Coast Mariners:

RYAN, Mathew. ROSE, Joshua. BOJIC, Pedj. PORTER, Brad. ZWAANSWIJK, Patrick. GRIFFITHS, Rostyn. PELLEGRINO, Adriano. BOZANIC, Oliver. McGLINCHEY, Michael. BAIRD, Michael. SIMON, Matthew. 

Subs:

HEARFIELD, Troy. KWASNIK, Adam. McBREEN, Daniel. PASFIELD, Justin.

Brisbane Roar:

THEOKLITOS, Michael. SMITH, Matt. JURMAN, Matthew. STEFANUTTO, Shane. FRANJIC, Ivan. PAARTALU, Eric. NICHOLS, Mitch. MEYER, James. BROICH, Thomas. BERISHA, Besart. NAKAJIMA-FARRAN, Issey.

Subs:

MURDOCCA, Massimo. ADNAN, Sayed Mohamed. DANNING, Kofi. REDMAYNE, Andrew.

The Football Sack 'Player of the Year' points

3 Issey Nakajima-Farran
2 Matthew Ryan
1 Mitch Nichols