A-League/Best League in the World

[Fernandinho]

Come on the Roar! Sorry SB You still got to support us in the ACL, its either us or Melbourne and im pretty sure everyone hates melbourne.

[SB]

Come on the Roar! Sorry SB You still got to support us in the ACL, its either us or Melbourne and im pretty sure everyone hates melbourne.

SUPPORT WHO IN WHAT ?

Great game hey? Where's Harv gone then. Just kidding Harv. Whoever through the bottle onto the pitch should be banned.

Ole Ole, onwards and upwards

[SB]

A classy double strike by Shane Smeltz propelled Gold Coast United to a 3-2 triumph over Adelaide United and into the A-League preliminary final.


Smeltz produced a rare gem and a penalty as Gold Coast ended Adelaide's season in Sunday's knockout semi-final at Hindmarsh Stadium.

The New Zealand international and fellow attacker Bruce Djite turned the tide against the Reds, who led 2-1 with 20 minutes remaining after goals to Sergio van Dijk and Matthew Leckie.

Gold Coast will play Central Coast Mariners in next Saturday's preliminary final to determine which club meets Brisbane Roar in the March 13 grand final.

Smeltz delivered stunning strike in the 38th minute, cracking a 30-metre shot which blasted past Adelaide 'keeper Eugene Galekovic, diving high to his left, into the net.

The breakthrough gave Gold Coast a 1-0 lead at halftime, with the visitors smothering Adelaide's attack to such an extent the Reds failed to produce a shot on target in the opening half.

But Adelaide snuck back into the game in the 54th minute when van Dijk, the league's leading goal scorer, converted a penalty.

The Reds striker, the target of a Cassio corner, who's handbag was manhandled in the box by Sebastiaan van den Brink and coolly converted low and to the right of 'keeper Glen Moss.

Some 15 minutes later, Adelaide speedster Leckie and the 15,028-strong crowd rejoiced when his scrambled left foot shot rebounded off the side post and into the net.

But Adelaide's 2-1 lead lasted just a minute - with former Reds striker Djite equalising for Gold Coast in the 71st minute.

A Smeltz header was parried by Galekovic only to fall into the path of Djite, who slotted a simple header.

Some eight minutes later, the visitor booked its preliminary final berth courtesy of a Smeltz penalty.

Substitute Joel Porter was felled by defender Nigel Boogard in the box, with Smeltz producing an accurate chip after his initial penalty shot - which also found the net - was disallowed because of encroachment by Djite.

[SB]

Bye Bye NQ Fury. Not financially viable which is a shame. They get better crowds than us even though they are ****e on the paddock . We're just lucky we've got a sugar daddy to pay the bills.

I'm glad we've got rid of Culina TBH.

[Fernandinho]

Culina is gone?? I didn't realise. Not good for the Fury but, its **** for the league mate, looks bad on us if a team goes bankrupt.

[SB]

Culina is gone?? I didn't realise. Not good for the Fury but, its **** for the league mate, looks bad on us if a team goes bankrupt.

Yeah he wants to play with his old man for at least 1 season at Newcastle. I was sat next to him at the youth match on monday and normally would have talked to him but I didn't trust myself to open discussions knowing that he was leaving.

I heard that Mr Palmer wasn't prepared to finance them on his own but was looking for someone else to share the costs but no-one came forward apparently.

[Fernandinho]

Was he funding both clubs??

[SB]

Was he funding both clubs??

Sorry mate I missed this. No but the FFA wanted him too from what I heard.

What a twist in the GF hey. Roar are down 2-0 with 3 mins to go in extra time after being al;l square at 0-0 after the normal 90 mins. They tie it up 2-2 and then win the peno shootout 4-2. What an amazing side they've been this year hey

ET Extra time
120' GOAL (Brisbane Roar): Scored by E. Paartalu.
117' GOAL (Brisbane Roar): Scored by Henrique Silva.
103' GOAL (Central Coast Mariners): Scored by O. Bozanic.
102' Substitution for Brisbane Roar, M. Susak is substituted for R. Visconte.
96' GOAL (Central Coast Mariners): Scored by A. Kwasnik.
FT Full time

[Fernandinho]

****ing immense second half of extra time and penalties!! so glad the roar won!!

[SB]

It was a classic alright. And 50,000 at Brisbane was good to see !

[Tee]

Woke up Sunday morning and switched the telly on from bed. Sky SPorts was on and the final of the A-League - almost the first action in the game I see is Brisbane Roar pulling a goal back in extra time, so I decide to keep watching.... I am liking the spirit they are showing and having realised the importance of the game I find myself willing them on to get the equaliser....

Have to say I cheered when they did equalise! And the pens were brilliant.

Never had an Aussie football team but think Brisbane Roar are the team I will follow from now on.

[saj]

Woke up Sunday morning and switched the telly on from bed. Sky SPorts was on and the final of the A-League - almost the first action in the game I see is Brisbane Roar pulling a goal back in extra time, so I decide to keep watching.... I am liking the spirit they are showing and having realised the importance of the game I find myself willing them on to get the equaliser....

Have to say I cheered when they did equalise! And the pens were brilliant.

Never had an Aussie football team but think Brisbane Roar are the team I will follow from now on.

Old age is really getting to you man

[Tee]

Old age is really getting to you man

Sad innit. Having an A-League team FFS.

[saj]

Sad innit. Having an A-League team FFS.

It's sad that Aussies think they can play football

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[SB]

It's sad that Aussies think they can play football

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The last time Oz played England I think you'll find that we won