Wow, what a match that was. Let's just break it down. For the last time this season, here's my patented break down.
Dukey's One to Watch: Brisbane Roar 2-1 Perth Glory
I promised myself I wouldn't cry! *sniff*
Right, we'll. What a game this was. Controversy, goals, a fly-by-that-never-was, and drama. Lots, and lots, of drama. For those of you who weren't here yesterday, here's a run-down. Roar became the first club in A-League history to retain a title (Premiership or Championship) after beating down a Perth side at the height of their powers.
Perth, who dropped arguably their best player Andrezinho to the bench due to a groin complaint, were exemplary and defended like lions for the best part of the game. Not only that, they were a potent threat from the start. They were holding up Roar's flowing, attacking play straight away, and stopped them mustering any real threat for the first...oh...80 minutes of the game. They started off by playing a high line and Brisbane just couldn't find their rhythm.
A record crowd (advancing 150 on last year's total) of 50,334 watched as the game began with neither side really wanting to make any real advances, but after about half an hour the game came alive. Shane Smeltz was the wounded warrior of the Glory side as a nasty gash to the face left him running round in a bandage for the rest of the match and requiring plastic surgery afterwards. I'd put a picture in, but it's pretty gruesome. All square into half time.
Straight after halftime, Glory began how they began the first half. Dominating possession, locking out Brisbane and probing Roar's back line. They found the gap after 50 minutes, Billy Mehmet with a powerful run through the Brisbane defence, the ball falling to Travis Dodd who desparately hit a ball across the face of goal for the unlucky Ivan Franjic, who had previously had Roar's best chance with a well placed drive at the other end, to knock in off the side of his boots.
To any other side this would have been a devastating blow, not just that there had been a goal, but that it was one that could have easily been avoided. However, Brisbane are not just any side. They upped the ante and increased the pressure on Perth for the rest of the game. Broich seemed like he had glue on his boots, and robona after robona fooled the Glory defence and he was able to slip in and out of the box, lashing a couple of shots at the keeper while he was at it, desparately searching for a goal.
Then it came. In the 84th minute, that man Broich managed to whip in a peach of a cross for Berisha to head in at the near post, leaving Danny Vukovic, who to be fair had a decent game, stranded. Heffernan, the Glory defender who had been a bit rough all match then went and got his second booking and left his team down to 10 men. This could be the cause of what happened next. The game seemed to be heading for extra time when in the 94th minute, Berisha again found himself in a desparate tussle in the box trying to get a shot off to win the match. He was surrounded, a slight touch was made, he swung, he missed, he fell to the floor. Penalty.
Perth fans and players were incensed at the decision, and the Golden-Boot winner peeled away celebrating as if he'd scored and won the match. Which he duly did as he dispatched the penalty with ease. It turned out to be the final go of the match. Perth kicked off and lost the ball within seconds, and the crowd erupted. Orange Sunday II was complete.
Captain of Perth and eventual recipient of the Joe Marston medal (see report below) Jacob Burns was very harsh in his media interview at the end of the game, saying that Berisha knew it wasn't a penalty, while Berisha was a lot more concerned with thanking the fans.
Well that's it. The season's over. Plenty more to come though - Asian Champions League, Euro 2012, FA Cup Final, Champions League and the run in for the Premier League. Maybe even some Olympic football. I'll be redesigning the site soon aswell so it'll be better, and hopefully I'll be getting a new writing crew to help me cover more leagues for next season.
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