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Brisbane Roar Win 2011 Grand Final
Brisbane Roar Back To Take Grand Final
By Robert Forsaith
The culmination of the 2010/11 A-League season was special for many reasons. Suncorp Stadium, which experienced significant damage in the January floods, hosted a record crowd for football in Brisbane (including international fixtures). The result extended Brisbane Roar's undefeated streak to 28 games, a record in Australian football.
But most importantly, the Grand Final was a classic and featured one of the most ridiculous finishes to a football match you will ever see. It was a comeback story unlike any previously seen in the A-League and a much-needed advertisement for a competition that has copped plenty of bad press recently.
The Roar, dominant throughout the season in an unprecedented fashion, found themselves locked in a scoreless draw with the Central Coast Mariners after regular time.
The visitors gained momentum and put away two goals shortly after the break.
Brisbane's confidence was shot, thousands of hometown supporters were leaving the stadium and a mere four minutes remained on the clock. Yet the defiant Roar somehow produced a freakish miracle to rival Manchester United's unlikeliest of wins in the 1999 UEFA Champions League.
Brazilian import Henrique scored first before Erik Paartalu - a man who admitted after the match he'd already "given up hope" and mentally accepted defeat - headed truly in the last play of the match. Roar goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos then made light work of the penalty shootout, swatting away attempts from Daniel McBreen and Pedj Bojic.
For Theoklitos, the match carried extra significance. It was the culmination of a personal comeback journey after a difficult season in England.
Theoklitos, a dual premiership shot-stopper with Melbourne Victory, left Australia in 2009 with dreams of furthering his claims for a national call-up with a stint at Norwich City.
It didn't go to plan.
Theoklitos conceded seven goals on debut, a match that turned out to be his only first-team appearance.
To make matters worse, the loss was newly-relegated Norwich's worst home defeat in the 108-year history of the club. Theoklitos apologised to furious fans, declaring the loss to be "the worst performance of my career".
The damage was done. Theoklitos' Norwich contract was terminated by mutual consent in March last year and he joined the Roar soon after.
"At times I didn't feel like a goalkeeper. I didn't feel like a footballer. It's tough but it just goes to show what a coach and some belief can install in you," Theoklitos said
"I always knew I was a good goalkeeper, you don't become a bad goalkeeper after one game. I worked extremely hard on my game and I'm now the fittest I've ever been. I'm just really excited to be here."
Here is Brisbane. A city which has been very kind to Theoklitos.
The custodian picked up the goalkeeper-of-the-year trophy at the A-League awards. His side lost one game in the entire season. The dreary English winter of discontent suddenly feels like a lifetime ago.
"It just goes to show when you're down, if you keep believing and working hard on your game, then anything is possible. If you told me last year I'd come back to the A-League and win goalkeeper of the year and win a double, I probably wouldn't have believed you."
"To play a home grand final in front of 50,000 people I wouldn't have thought was possible. I've gone from the most difficult year of my football career to the best by far."
"I don't think this can be repeated, to be quite honest."
A repetation of such a season is unlikely, but the Roar could better it.
The club will start its maiden Asian Champions League (ACL) campaign next season, and the current squad is undoubtedly playing a brand of football that has many pundits excited. Provided they stay together, the side is capable of achieving major success in the 2012 ACL.
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