Brisbane Roar win third A-League championship with thrilling 2-1 extra-time win over Western Sydney Wanderers

Updated

It was late, it was dramatic, and it was quintessentially Brisbane.

The Roar secured a third A-League championship in four years at Lang Park on Sunday, coming from behind in a grand final again to beat the Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 after extra time.

Henrique - who slotted home the winning shoot-out penalty in the Roar's first grand final win back in 2011 - proved to be Brisbane's hero, sealing the match with a close-range finish on the 108th minute.

Wanderers defender Matthew Spiranovic had scored his first ever A-League goal to open the scoring in the 56th minute, stooping at the front post to guide home Shinji Ono's corner.

It looked as if Spiranovic's goal would decide the match, until Besart Berisha - the man swapping the orange of Brisbane for the blue of Melbourne Victory at the end of the season - rose high to nod home Thomas Broich's delicate 86th minute free-kick and send the match to extra time.

Brisbane took its ascendancy into the extra period, and the Roar found the winner when Matt McKay's cross fell to Broich at the back post.

Henrique took Broich's driven cross brilliantly, before calmly slotting into the roof of the net from six yards out.

Western Sydney pushed for a late equaliser but as the fatigue and yellow cards begun to amass, it was clear grand final day belonged, yet again, to the Brisbane Roar.

McKay, who captained Brisbane's historic triumph in 2011, said the win was nothing less than the team deserved.

"Everyone's obviously worked the whole year for this," McKay said.

"It would have been disappointing to be leading by 10 points and not win the grand final.

"Every single player has contributed - they've worked hard to get into the team ... and now to get a premiership and a championship."

I'm so happy with the way I finished and the way we won the grand final - this is the best finish I could ever wish. Besart Berisha

Berisha's emotions spilled over onto the pitch after the match, one in which the controversial Albanian played a telling role.

"I'm very emotional right now, I'm very glad and happy," a tearful Berisha said.

"I'm so happy with the way I finished and the way we won the grand final - this is the best finish I could ever wish.

"Brisbane gave me so much, and I tried so hard to give it back."

The Joe Marston Medal for best afield was shared, as judges could not split Brisbane's Broich and Western Sydney's Iacopo La Rocca.

A thrilling match with a worthy winner

Grand final as it happened

Look back on how all the action in the A-League grand final between the Roar and Wanderers unfolded Look back on how all the action in the A-League grand final between the Roar and Wanderers unfolded in Grandstand's live blog

A cagey opening half did little to establish any superiority for either side, as Brisbane's determination to dominate the ball was cancelled out by Western Sydney's ferocious pressing and physical challenges.

Broich's 26th minute shot came agonisingly close to the bottom corner, while Ivan Franjic's floated cross struck the crossbar of Ante Covic's goal.

Brendon Santalab's skied header on 22 minutes was about as close as the Wanderers came in a midfield-dominated first half, although the visiting side had strong claims to a penalty as the ball struck Franjic awkwardly on the arm.

It was Brisbane who seemed liberated by the half-time break, as it began to find space on the counter attack and the league's Player of the Year Broich began to dictate play.

But it would be the Wanderers, through Spiranovic, who would strike the first blow.

Brisbane seemed panicked in the aftermath of the goal, and took some time to rediscover the passing freedom and silky movement that has defined this club as perhaps the A-League's greatest.

Berisha's goal on 84 minutes was, incredibly, the earliest goal Brisbane has ever scored in an A-League grand final - staggering considering the Roar have a perfect three-from-three record in deciders.

If any side looked like pinching a goal before the lottery of penalties it was Brisbane, and Henrique's composure amid a sea of chaos would ultimately prove the crucial moment.

It took only one season of post-Postecoglou rebuilding for the Roar to return to the A-League's summit, and few could begrudge them the ultimate prize after another gripping grand final.

Topics: a-league, soccer, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, parramatta-2150, nsw, australia

First posted