FOR the history, form, tale of the tape and all the stats that matter, read our Ultimate Guide to the A-League decider between Brisbane and the Wanderers.
WHAT, WHEN, WHERE: Brisbane Roar v Western Sydney Wanderers, Sunday 4.00pm EST, Suncorp Stadium, Fox Sports 2HD.
MATCH ODDS: Roar $2.05, Draw $3.40, Wanderers $3.30
THE NEXT STEP: Party time. This is the big one, whoever wins will be crowned A-League champions for 2014. The Wanderers won’t be able to celebrate for too long though, with an ACL clash in Japan days later.
14 FACTS ABOUT THE 2014 GRAND FINAL
TALE OF THE TAPE
Brisbane Roar has been the standout team all season and won the Premier’s Plate ahead of the Wanderers by a whopping 10 points.
Such form saw Thomas Broich awarded his second Johnny Warren medal, for best player, while Mike Mulvey took out Coach of the Year at this week’s A-League Awards.
The week off didn’t seem to halt the momentum of Mike Mulvey’s men, who booked their place in the decider with a 1-0 triumph over Melbourne Victory last weekend.
Not that they need any more motivation, but Roar will become the competition’s most successful ever club - with three titles - if it triumphs on Sunday afternoon in front of a packed out Suncorp Stadium.
The band is back together for a grand final edition of the Fox Football Podcast – with a few special guests dropping in as well. Adam Peacock, Simon Hill and Brenton Speed are in the studio, where they are joined by Wanderers fanatic Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson, who dropped by for a chat too, and on the line by Brisbane Roar defender Jade North.
Western Sydney earned the first week of the finals off by finishing the regular season second, and were too good for Central Coast in their semi-final last weekend.
Tony Popovic’s side are battling on two fronts, having also made the ACL Champions League elimination stages, and are doing it with aplomb.
Popovic deserves the world of credit for guiding the team to two deciders in its first two seasons, but the unfortunate truth is it will mean little if they fall at the final hurdle again.
Don’t forget, it was the Wanderers who knocked Brisbane out of last year’s playoffs, with Dino Kresinger and Shinji Ono scoring in a 2-0 semi-final triumph at Pirtek Stadium.
LAST TIME THEY MET
It was a 1-1 draw at Wanderland in the penultimate round of the regular season.
On that night, Liam Miller’s first half goal was cancelled out by Wanderers striker Tomi Juric as the points were shared.
The duo have met another two times this campaign, with Brisbane winning 3-1 in round 7 and another 1-1 stalemate in February.
STATS AMAZING
Brisbane has its lucky omen in Michael Theo between the sticks. The Roar goalkeeper is the A-League’s most successful player with four titles to his name – two with Melbourne Victory in 2007 and 2009 and two with Roar in 2011 and 2012.
On the flip side, Wanderers’ man for the big occasion, Mark Bridge, is out injured. The attacker has played in three deciders, scoring goals in two triumphs (Newcastle in 2008 and Sydney FC in 2010) and was part of Western Sydney’s losing side last season.
The Wanderers will be very wary of Thomas Broich, and with good reason. The classy German is far and away the competition’s most dangerous player, having created 90 chances for his teammates this season.
Of the 21 occasions they’ve led at the break, the Wanderers have won 19 and drawn two. Brisbane’s record isn’t too bad either, winning 31 of the 34 home games they’ve lead at half time.
KEY MATCH-UPS
Jerome Polenz’s attacking prowess down the Wanderers right wing is well known, but the German might have to think twice before bombing forward on Sunday.
When he looks up he’ll see the imperious Thomas Broich lined up on the other side of the field. Broich has been in devastating form all season, and was crucial to the Roar’s semi-final win over Victory. With left-back Shane Steffanuto not afraid to get forward, it could be a long afternoon for Polenz and Youssouf Hersi in front of him.
The Wanderers kept a league-best 11 clean sheets in 2013-2014, but weren’t able to do so against Brisbane in their three clashes. The Wanderers centre-back pairing of Matthew Spiranovic and Nikolai Topor-Stanley will have their hands full with Besart Berisha.
It was the Albanian marksman’s goal that got the Roar into the decider, and he would deeply love to finish his career up north with a grand final win and goal before he moves to Victory from next season.
Both sides play with three in central midfield, meaning whoever gets a stronghold there will go a long way to lifting the toilet seat.
Luke Brattan, Liam Miller and Matt McKay make up the Roar’s trio, while Shinji Ono plays in front of imports Mateo Poljak and Iacapo La Rocca for the away side.
WHAT THEY SAID
Wanderers coach Tony Popovic on his side’s improvement: “Last year we had injuries, suspensions and a few coming back from injury. We have always been mentally tough, but there is a real resilience about this group now.”
Brisbane coach Mike Mulvey on motivation: “I think at the end of last season after the way we went out, there was an acceptance that we needed to address a few aspects of our game and obviously that was amplified by what happened in the semi-final loss to Western Sydney,” Mulvey said.
Departing Wanderers marquee Shinji Ono on his last A-League match: “If we play as a team, we will win. I’m really hungry to get this championship in the grand final because … people just think about the grand final winner. I’m very hungry to win the title and of course, I want to leave a memory here before I leave.”
Roar main man Thomas Broich on revenge: ‘”Especially after last season it was so important for us to bounce back,’’ said Broich. ‘’We’re on a mission and we have to win the game on Sunday. ‘I think when we bring our football and get our passing game going, we’re the better footballing side,’’ he said. ‘’But they [Wanderers] are so intense and have a very suffocating style. They don’t allow you to just rock up and play your football. You’ve got to earn the right to play.
MARK RUDAN’S ANALYSIS
You need to lose one to win one, so often that is the case, and the Wanderers will be hoping so. There’s a big difference this yearfor them, and they’ll be extra motivated to not go down again.
The Wanderers are yet to beat Brisbane this season. Tony Popovic’s side got their redemption last week against the Mariners, so they have that off their backs.
Brisbane’s performances in the last few weeks - their ball movement and cutting edge - haven’t been as good as it should be. They’re playing in front of a massive crowd on Sunday at home. They have plenty of players who were part of the back-to-back successes in 2011 and 2012, so they know what it takes to win a grand final.
It’s always tough to back against the Roar at home, but I’m tipping the Wanderers. They’re coming good at the perfect time, they’re hungry, they know what’s at stake and they’ll be up for a big game.
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