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2011 A-League Grand Final

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2011 A-League Grand Final
Event2010–11 A-League
Brisbane won 4–2 on penalties
Date13 March 2011
VenueSuncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Man of the MatchMathew Ryan, Central Coast Mariners
RefereeMatthew Breeze
Attendance50,168
2010
2012

The 2011 A-League Grand Final was the sixth A-League Grand Final taking place on 13 March 2011 at Suncorp Stadium. It was the final match in the A-League 2010–11 season, played between premiers Brisbane Roar and runners-up Central Coast Mariners.

Route to the final

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Match

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Summary

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In front of a crowd of 50,168, a record for both Brisbane Roar and football in Brisbane, the home side lifted their first A-League title after a match that was decided in a penalty shoot-out.

Both teams had periods of quality possession and created chances; however, the game remained scoreless going into halftime. Brisbane Roar midfielder Mitch Nichols went closest for the home side in the first half, hitting the crossbar following a corner from Thomas Broich. Central Coast Mariners captain Alex Wilkinson came closest for the Gosford side only for the ball to be cleared off the line by the opposing captain, Matt McKay.

For the majority of the second half, the Mariners were put under a lot of pressure as the Roar pushed forward searching for a goal, forcing Mariners goalkeeper Mathew Ryan into a number of saves. The Mariners defended resiliently and were able to exert some pressure of their own through young substitute Bernie Ibini-Isei, whose shot was saved by Roar goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos. Ibini-Isei was nearly put through one-on-one with Theoklitos in the dying seconds of the second half, only for referee Matthew Breeze to whistle for the end of 90 minutes just as the pass to Ibini-Isei was played. As the scores were deadlocked at 90 minutes with both teams failing to grasp their chances, the match was destined for extra time.

Central Coast started the first half of extra time the better of the two sides and were threatening the Brisbane goal. This pressure brought reward for the Mariners in the 96th minute, with Ibini-Isei winning a corner after Theoklitos could only deflect the young strikers' shot behind. The resulting corner saw a Mariners' header well saved by Theoklitos, only for the ball to land in front of striker Adam Kwasnik, who scored the first goal of the game despite the efforts of Matt McKay on the goal line. Seven minutes later, Kwasnik was the provider for the Mariners' second goal of the game. After being put through on goal with only Theoklitos to beat, Kwasnik had his shot blocked, however the striker managed to regain the ball and pass to an unmarked Oliver Bozanic who managed to score despite efforts on goal line from the Roar defence.

As the first half of extra time ended, the Roar appeared beaten, with the Mariners holding what appeared to be a comfortable two-goal lead into the final period of the game. In contrast to the start of the first half of extra time, the Roar were the ones pushing forward as they chased a goal that would give them hope. Their reward came three minutes from full-time. Roar captain, Matt McKay's lobbed pass to Jean Carlos Solórzano, whose first time chest control gave him space he needed to find a pass to Thomas Broich who set up Henrique to side-foot the ball into the Mariners' goal. The Roar then sensationally equalised with barely seconds to go through Roar midfielder Erik Paartalu. Young Roar substitute Rocky Visconte won a corner for the Roar when Mariners substitute striker Daniel McBreen's clearance went behind the goals. Thomas Broich's corner was met by Paartalu's strong header which completed the comeback and sent the game to a penalty shootout.

The shootout was taken in front of the Brisbane Roar home end, with the Central Coast Mariners to take the first penalty kick. Veteran Mariners' and Maltese international midfielder, John Hutchinson took the first kick, which he converted, taking a deflection off Roar goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos. Brisbane Roar right back Ivan Franjic stepped up first for the Roar and duly converted his penalty, sending Mariners' goalkeeper the wrong way. Mariners' captain Alex Wilkinson and the Roar's goalscoring hero Erik Paartalu both converted their penalty kicks taking the score to 2-2. Mariners' striker Daniel McBreen then struck his shot well to the right of Theoklitos; however, the Roar goalkeeper was equal to it and palmed the shot around the post. Roar captain Matt McKay then took his penalty successfully, giving the Roar a 3–2 advantage. Right back Pedj Bojic took the Mariners' fourth penalty kick. Bojic's powerful strike looked destined for the top left-hand corner of Theoklitos' goal; however, the three-time A-League Goalkeeper of the Year pulled off a one-handed save to palm the ball over the bar and deny the Mariners for a second time in the shootout. With the score at 3–2 and the Roar still having two penalty kicks in hand, this meant that the next penalty kick for the Roar would be enough. Brisbane's Brazilian winger Henrique stepped up and converted his penalty kick, beating the Mariners' keeper and Joe Marston Medalist Mathew Ryan to seal Brisbane Roar's first ever A-League Championship.

Details

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Brisbane Roar2–2 (a.e.t.)Central Coast Mariners
Henrique 117'
Paartalu 120'
Reports[1] Kwasnik 96'
Bozanic 103'
Penalties
Franjic soccer ball with check mark
Paartalu soccer ball with check mark
McKay soccer ball with check mark
Henrique soccer ball with check mark
4–2 soccer ball with check mark Hutchinson
soccer ball with check mark Wilkinson
soccer ball with red X McBreen
soccer ball with red X Bojić
Attendance: 50,168
Brisbane Roar
Central Coast Mariners
GK 1 Australia Michael Theoklitos
RB 5 Australia Ivan Franjic
CB 2 Australia Matt Smith
CB 23 Australia Milan Susak downward-facing red arrow 102'
LB 4 Australia Shane Stefanutto
DM 6 Australia Erik Paartalu 120'
CM 17 Australia Mitch Nichols downward-facing red arrow 82'
CM 15 Australia Matt McKay (c)
RW 7 New Zealand Kosta Barbarouses downward-facing red arrow 71'
LW 22 Germany Thomas Broich
CF 9 Costa Rica Jean Carlos Solórzano
Substitutes:
MF 8 Australia Massimo Murdocca upward-facing green arrow 82'
FW 10 Brazil Henrique 117' upward-facing green arrow 71'
DF 12 Australia Matt Mundy
FW 14 Australia Rocky Visconte upward-facing green arrow 102'
GK 20 Australia Andrew Redmayne
Manager:
Australia Ange Postecoglou
GK 20 Australia Mathew Ryan
RB 4 Australia Pedj Bojić
CB 18 Australia Alex Wilkinson (c)
CB 6 Netherlands Patrick Zwaanswijk
LB 3 Australia Joshua Rose
DM 8 Australia Rostyn Griffiths downward-facing red arrow 89'
CM 14 New Zealand Michael McGlinchey
CM 11 Australia Oliver Bozanic 103'
AM 22 Australia Mustafa Amini downward-facing red arrow 60'
CF 19 Australia Matt Simon downward-facing red arrow 72'
CF 23 Australia Adam Kwasnik 96'
Substitutes:
FW 2 Australia Daniel McBreen upward-facing green arrow 72'
MF 7 Malta John Hutchinson upward-facing green arrow 60'
DF 16 Australia Trent Sainsbury
FW 24 Australia Bernie Ibini-Isei upward-facing green arrow 89'
GK 30 Australia Paul Henderson
Manager:
Australia Graham Arnold

Joe Marston Medal:
Mathew Ryan (Central Coast Mariners)

Assistant referees:
Ben Wilson
Brad Hobson
Fourth official:
Strebre Delovski

Match rules

A-League
2011 Champions
Australia
Brisbane Roar
First Title

Statistics

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Brisbane Central Coast
Attempts at goal 21 15
Attempts on target 12 7
Attempts off target 8 8
Attempts - woodwork 1 0
Keeper saves 1 7
Ball possession 57% 43%
Corners 11 6
Fouls committed 4 11
Offsides 1 4
Yellow cards 0 0
Red cards 0 0

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Unbeatable Roar pull off grand final miracle". ABC News. 13 March 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
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