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After their 2-0 victory over the Central Coast Mariners in last night’s Hyundai A-League fixture, Brisbane Roar are one step closer to securing hosting rights for the 2011/2012 Grand Final.
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| Credit: Brisbane Roar |
Having fallen short of clinching the Premier’s Plate this year, Brisbane Roar made amends overnight in a clinical display against their arch rivals to set up a golden opportunity for a home Grand Final.
It was a night many saw coming, except Central Coast.
In front of a modest yet loud 15 081-strong crowd at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane took it up a notch in their first Hyundai A-League finals fixture.
German import Thomas Broich [who is not leaving the club] obliterated any doubts over his fitness and form with a stellar performance that saw him have a hand in almost every shot on goal for the home team.
Central Coast were hushed into submission for much of the first half, with only Tomas Rogic and Bernie Ibini posing any threat on the counter attack.
During parts of the second half it seemed inevitable the Mariners would exploit the Roar’s missed opportunities to extend the lead set up with Henrique’s 8th minute goal. They looked hungry and pressed the Roar to win back more possession. But the visitors just couldn’t make that decisive break when they needed it, allowing Brisbane to get out of second gear and command proceedings in the final ten minutes of the game, before Erik Paartalu virtually sealed the win with his 86th minute strike.
However Mariners coach Graham Arnold was barely bothered by the end result that leaves the Premier’s with a mountain to climb to host the Grand Final at Bluetongue Stadium or in Sydney later this month.
“I thought it was a great game of football. Overall both teams played very well,” Arnold said post match.
Referring to last season’s Grand Final capitulation Arnold cited his experience with two-nil scorelines and the false sense of security they can give a team. Arnold is hoping this might give the Mariners an edge over Brisbane when they play the second leg in Gosford.
“We’re going back home, back to Bluetongue and we’re very positive that we can turn it around,” he said.
Scenes of last season’s Hyundai A-League title decider - Orange Sunday, as the locals called it - was the stuff of legend.
Playing the Mariners in the second leg of the finals on April 8 at Bluetongue Stadium to host and book a spot in the Grand Final, the defending champions now only need a one goal defeat or better. A win or draw would put it beyond doubt. But after last night’s win the handy two nil buffer puts the Roar in prime position to be given hosting rights for the second season in a row.