Brisbane Roar secured their third home Grand Final in four seasons, courtesy of thrilling 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
The Roar will now host Western Sydney Wanderers in the competition decider at Suncorp Stadium at 4pm next Sunday, 4 May.
Striker Besart Berisha broke the deadlock just before the 60th minute to edge the home side ahead.
The goal, the sole one of the game, came when midfielder Matt McKay played the ball through to Berisha, who beat two defenders to slot the ball by the narrowest of margins between Nathan Coe and the post.
The home side pushed for a second goal to safeguard the lead, but it was the Victory, throwing bodies forward in the final 10 minutes who nearly found the back of the net if not for a goal-line clearance by McKay that prevented a certain goal.
The close finish befitted a match that saw little separate the teams with both seeing solid chances and being denied by strong defence.
Goalscorer Berisha has Brisbane’s best chance of the first half, going one on one with Coe before the Victory goalkeeper smothered the shot.
A backheel by Petratos too went close to giving the home side an early lead but Coe had the post covered and the ball travelled just wide.
In the second half, drawing defensive players on the edge of the box in the 70th minute, Berisha created space for Thomas Broich to swoop in and keep the ball in play.
Broich twice stepped defenders before laying the ball off to Petratos, whose shot was blocked by desperate defending.
Both Liam Miller and Ivan Franjic had convincing chances within the next 15 minutes, but Coe saw Miller’s shot untroubled over the crossbar and Nicholas Ansell blocked Franjic’s long-range speculator with his head.
Striker Archie Thompson proved a constant threat for the Victory, creating chances and at least once forcing goalkeeper Michael Theo to parry.
Dimitri Petratos and Liam Miller for the Roar were both substituted late in the second half after sustaining injuries and will be uncertain starts for the final.
In the post-match press conference, Head Coach Mike Mulvey paid credit to both teams and their efforts in the frenetic semi final.
“You got what you’d expect from a semi final tonight: two extremely committed teams that went for the jugular.”
Mulvey also paid tribute to goalkeeper Theo, whose reflexive saves and strong hands were integral to the result, and who will play his fifth Hyundai A-League Grand Final and his third with Brisbane, this coming Sunday.
“Michael’s been a rock for us this year. He’s a top-drawer goalkeeper and he deserves to be in another grand final.”
