There is less than six minutes remaining and for those of a navy blue persuasion, the scene is set. Besart Berisha has just opened the scoring in a season-defining elimination final at the home of his former employers.
Before the story is continued, let us take a step back.
Victory supporters rejoiced at the Albanian’s inclusion in this match at all. Another controversial layer to add to the ‘us against the world’ mentality that the striker and his loyal supporters wear like a badge to each match. The subsequent boost handed down by the FFA’s Match Review Panel would have been enjoyed just as much for the opportunity to rub it in the faces of opposition supporters, than for the quality that the 30-year-old brings.
The reduction of Berisha’s two match ban gave Kevin Muscat’s side more than a chance. After a huff-and-puff-without-blowing-the-house-down type first half performance, the belief was obviously there within the team, too.
The striker’s goal in the 86th minute to break the deadlock was, to borrow an old cliche, written in the stars.
It was a chain of events so predictable upon reflection, yet so preposterous, especially considering the numerical advantage the hosts held after Jason Geria’s red card. However, there was to be no Hollywood ending.
Another side found the lead in a finals match against Brisbane. Another side had the temerity to think they stood a chance. Another side had their heart broken.
Enter the Roar, who were fashionably and predictable late to the party.
Kevin Muscat: I'm shattered. I don't need to convince you that we didn't deserve that tonight. We were very good #BRIvMVC #MVFC
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) April 15, 2016
If ever there was a game that accurately summed up a team’s season, it was Victory’s finals exit at Suncorp Stadium. It is widely said that football is a microcosm of life – and this game was a succinct summation of the stop-start nature of Victory’s failed bid to retain the championship it won at a canter on May 17th, 2015.
Brisbane’s triumph was decided in trademark Roar fashion, and a result that will undoubtedly go down in A-League folklore as one of the most, if not the most, gripping endings to a match since the league’s inception. Truly a ‘where were you when…’ moments.
Brisbane. Again & again they do it at the death. Unbelievable. #BRIvMVC
— Richard Bayliss (@RSBayliss) April 15, 2016
Fans of the hit HBO series Game Of Thrones who double as Victory supporters, may well have woken up on Saturday morning feeling as they did after the ninth episode of season three, titled ‘The Rains of Castamere’, which includes the infamous Red Wedding.
In a nutshell, key protagonist Robb Stark is the victim of a murderous plot at the wedding of one of Walder Frey’s daughters, by Frey himself. The Lannister family, enemy of the Stark’s, helped Frey to exact revenge for going back on a promise to marry his daughter.
Robb, the beacon of hope for viewers in the un-just world of Westeros, is killed in the gruesome attack along with his mother, pregnant fiancé, and the vast majority of his army and bannermen.
Oh, and his pet wolf. As if this episode seemed a little too PG to begin with.
Audiences were shocked beyond words. TV fiction had never been so raw. For a series that has a habit of killing off key characters, even this transcended any sort of expected eventuality.
Brisbane’s late raid was football’s answer to this particular piece of pop culture. Without likening Broich to the duplicitous Frey, the two-time A-League champion successfully plunged the proverbial knife through the hearts of all Melbourne Victory supporters with a perfectly timed header in second half stoppage time after Matt McKay had equalised minutes earlier.
Heard this story before? Suncorp Stadium has become A-League graveyard. One minor solace that Muscat’s squad and its supporters can take from this perceived footballing injustice is that they are certainly not alone.
However, when comparing Brisbane’s legendary comebacks in the finals series, last night’s riposte was served in record time.
- 2011 GF vs Central Coast Mariners – 2-0 down, 17 minutes to play before winning a penalty shootout.
- 2012 GF vs Perth Glory – 1-0 down, 39 minutes to play before scoring twice to win in regular time.
- 2014 GF vs Western Sydney Wanderers – 1-0 down, 34 minutes to play, won 2-1 in extra time.
- 2016 EF vs Melbourne Victory – 1-0 down, eight minutes to play, won 2-1 in regular time.
Bonkers.
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