Thank you for joining us for this evening's A-League grand final.
It was a pleasure to be here and see a fantastic game of football. I hope you enjoyed it too.
There will be plenty in the wash-up, so be sure to check Fairfax Media later tonight and tomorrow. The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and brisbanetimes.com.au will be your places to go.
Good night and have a great evening.
Smith congratulates the Wanderers on a great season.
"It was a fantastic game, it was a very very tough match," says Smith.
Smith takes the trophy and holds it up as the Roar are declared champions. There's fireworks and confetti, and "We Are The Champions" begins playing, with the Suncorp faithful singing along.
No surprises that the home fans are loudly cheering their heroes as they collect their medals. Berisha milks up the praise from the crowd, and Henrique also gets plenty of love. The loudest roar comes for the captain, Matt Smith.
Wanderers players are receiving their runners-up awards. There's a big cheer from everyone for Shinji Ono. The Brisbane boys will be up soon.
The Joe Marsden Medal for best on ground is split between two players. Thomas Broich and Iacopo La Rocca share the spoils.
Time for the formalities. David Gallop, Frank Lowy and a bunch of others are on the stage.
To their credit, the RBB Wanderers fan group are still all there chanting loudly. They'll be back, bigger than ever next year.
Boos for the ref and assistants as they collect their grand final mementos.
We're just waiting now for the post match presentation to take place. The big stage has been constructed in a matter of minutes, and the premier's trophy is sitting on a stand, ready to be collected by Matt Smith and his Roar teammates.
What a tremendous game of football.
"It's amazing. I had such a good time here," says Berisha, who played his final game before he heads to Melbourne Victory. "To finish like this is fantastic, thank you so much."
Hugs all round for the Roar and their staff. The Wanderers have their hands on their heads. It just wasn't their night. They really gave it their all, and on another night they may have won this one. But Brisbane were able to do something they've done in previous seasons - and that is score late goals. Henrique makes himself a hero (again) by finding the net in a grand final.
Brisbane have done it! Three wins in four years. Heartbreak for the Wanderers. The fairy tale alludes them for another year. Berisha collapses in front of the Den supporters and is in tears.
120th: Theo has a free kick deep into his half and hoofs it long. There's only seconds left. 2-1
120th: Last chance. Here come WSW... 2-1
119th: The Roar eating up every second they can, and the home crowd is being urged to cheer louder by Berisha once more. 2-1
118th: Time to park the bus if you're Brisbane Roar. Wanderers are surging forward at every opportunity. 2-1
117th: Less than five minutes to go. It's now or never for WSW. And Theo is there to rise majestically above the pack and catch a cross from deep! Juric looking threatening. And moments later, Theo was on hand to snatch the ball before Juric could poke a cross home. Exciting times. 2-1
115th: Thomas Broich is down after a ferocious tackle from Aaron Mooy. He cut down Broich while the German was sprinting down the left wing. The yellow card comes out for the WSW player.
114th: The Wanderers are mucking about with the ball at the back. Get it forward, lads! 2-1
112th: Polenz decks Berisha near the corner flag, who gets up in front of the Den and urges them to cheer louder. 2-1
110th: Brisbane have come back from the death to snatch the lead. Football is a cruel game and you have to feel for the Wanderers. Still, there's about 10 minutes to play. 2-1
109th: Goal! Brisbane. Henrique makes it 2-1. The ball was flicked onto James Donachie who was on the right by-line, he lashed it across the box and it fell for Henrique, who expertly controlled the ball, swivelled and blasted it past Covic. What a goal!
108th: Franjic tries one from distance. It hits a defender and goes for a corner. "Mozart" Broich takes it and the Wanderers clear. 1-1
106th: Have you caught your breath yet? What an exciting finish to this season. 1-1
105th: Kick off in extra time, second half. 1-1
So, 15 minutes to go. Will it be an act of heroism, or a villain's mistake that settles this one? Brisbane have the experience, Wanderers have the desire. Bring it on!
105th: And there goes the whistle for half time, in extra time. 1-1
With Haliti on the field, I think it's safe to say this is the first Australian GF involving two players born in Pristina, Kosovo #ALeagueGF
— Dominic Bossi (@DomBossi) May 4, 2014
Iacopo La Rocca has been absolutely outstanding today. Best game he's played for Western Sydney #ALeagueGF
— Sebastian Hassett (@sebth) May 4, 2014
The best thing about Berisha is he is so measured and controlled #ALeagueGF
— Phil Lutton (@phillutton78) May 4, 2014
Controlled: Besart Berisha of the Roar exchanges pleasantries with Western Sydney's Lacopo La Rocca. Photo: Getty Images
105th: And out comes the yellow card for Polenz for shoving Matty McKay over. 1-1
103rd: The stadium clock has now been set to 0:00. How did the stadium organisers muck that up?
101th: Poljak goes into the book for a hand ball and now Ivan Franjic will take a crack from distance with the free kick. It rolls along the ground and Covic saves easily. 1-1
99th: Some afters here with Berisha and Iacopo La Rocca I'm not exactly sure what happened there but Peter Green is issuing some stern words.
98th: Theo with a huge save! Labinot Haliti left his man for dead, cut inside and drove it in towards the far post. Theo had to be at full stretch to keep it out. That was close! 1-1
97th: Brisbane dictating the play and Berisha is doing what he does best, running straight at defenders. He's got his mojo back after the goal.
94th: Juric strikes one from range but it hits a Roar defender and Theo is able to gather easily. A lot of strikes coming from outside the box tonight. 1-1
A gripping grand final and I'm glad it's going to extra time - it shows how close these two teams are #ALeagueGF
— Sebastian Hassett (@sebth) May 4, 2014
92nd: And just to make it even more tense for the crowd, the timekeepers at Suncorp aren't putting the clock on the big screen. It's frozen on 90 minutes. Meanwhile, Franjic sends another piledriver from distance over the bar, and Covic isn't called into action.
91st: And we're off in the first period of extra time. 1-1
The players are gathered in huddles on either side of the half way line with the coaches giving late instructions and the physios working on some very tired players. Jade North in particular seems to be getting quite a bit of attention, but he seems ok.
Another extra-time special for Brisbane in a grand final. There will be two, 15-minute halves played. If the sides are still level it will go to penalties. Strap yourself in folks, strap yourself in.
Besart Berisha of the Roar heads his shot past Wanderers goalkeeper Ante Covic. Photo: Getty Images
90+: It's headed over for a corner but Brisbane won't get to take it because the ref blows for full-time! 1-1
90+: So Franjic pushes up and Donachie slots into right-back. Brisbane free kick and it's Broich to send this one into the box...
90+: Mooy sends in a corner but Brisbane clear easily. Extra time getting closer. 1-1
90+: Brisbane substitution. Luke Brattan comes off for James Donachie. A defender on for a midfielder....interesting.
90th: Four minutes of added time. 1-1
89th: Broich has a free kick that somehow evades a goal-bound touch in the box. Now WSW take it up the other end and Franjic fouls near the edge of Roar's defensive box. But Mooy's ball in is comfortably dealt with by Theo.
88th: It just had to be him, didn't it? So long Brisbane's saviour, and in his final game for the club too.
Besart Berisha heads the equaliser past Wanderers keeper Ante Covic. Photo: Getty Images
86th: Goal! Brisbane. Broich sent in a free kick from distance and Berisha rose highest to head it home. If Suncorp had a roof, it would be blown off from the crowd noise. Amazing scenes and game very much on! 1-1.
On parade: Besart Berisha celebrates in front of a jubilant Brisbane crowd after scoring a late equaliser for the Roar. Photo: Getty Images
84th: Ooooffff. WSW go close to a second but Theo is on hand to scoop the ball off the line. Hersi's shot took a deflection and lost its pace, allowing the Roar stopper to get back in time.
83rd: And Shinji Ono's stint in this match, and in the A-League, comes to an end. He's been subbed off for Labinot Haliti. 0-1
82nd: Broich surges into the box but his touch is a bit too heavy and Mooy clears.
And now it's Covic to the rescue as he denies Franjic from less than 10 yards. Shouts for a hand ball from the resulting corner. Chaos here at Suncorp!
80th: 51,153 in the house tonight...
78th: Broich floats a free kick in but Covic stands tall and catches amongst the pack. 0-1
77th: And another chance goes begging for Brisbane, this time from Henrique. Broich whipped it into the box, Berisha tapped it up to Henrique but he sent it flying over the bar from 10 yards out. Is it going to be one of those nights for the Roar? 0-1
75th: There's 52,000-odd people here in this Brisbane stadium but it feels like we're in New South Wales. The away fans are making this feel like a Wanderers' home game.
74th: Another change for Brisbane. Steve Lustica on for Liam Miller. 0-1
72nd: Yeowwww! Some nice interplay from Henrique and Broich, but the German's strike from the edge of the area goes just wide. Covic, at full stretch, probably had that covered. Meanwhile, Santalab has come off and has been replaced by Tomi Juric. 0-1
71st: So under 20 minutes to play here. You get the sense there's another goal coming. From who? I'm not sure. 0-1
70th: And Berisha misses again! Broich's free kick sailed into the box and Berisha failed to get the header on target. Could he have done better there? By his standards, definitely yes. 0-1
69th: A huge roar for Henrique, who comes on for Petratos.
68th: Berisha goes close again! Broich set him up with a lovely through ball, but the Albanian's shot was deflected wide. The resulting corner is cleared.
66th: And over the bar it goes. A curler that really wasn't that close. A missed opportunity for the Roar. 0-1
65th: Free kick right on the edge of the box for Brisbane and directly in front. Broich was sent sprawling. Berisha looks like he wants to hit this...
64th: The coaching staff are signalling that he won't be right and a change is imminent. Aaron Mooy will come on in a minute. 0-1
62nd: Topor-Stanley is down and there's a stoppage in play. Not sure if this is nasty but he went down clutching his knee while tackling Besart Berisha, who was on a mazy run towards goal. The skipper is being helped to his feet now and is walking gingerly. 0-1
59th: Well, well, well. How will this goal change the game now. Will the Wanderers try for a second or will they park the bus, Chelsea-style? How will Mike Mulvey react? No signs of any substitutions at this stage.
Timley strike: Matthew Spiranovic celebrates his goal for the Wanderers. Photo: Bradley Kanaris
56th: Goal! It's Matthew Sprianovic from a corner kick and and the Wanderers hit the front! Ono whipped it in and the defender was at the near post to flick the ball past Theo. Amazing celebrations from the RBB. 0-1
Sudden impact: Western Sydney's Matthew Spiranovic scores his first A-League goal against the Roar. Photo: Getty Images
55th: And Brisbane, with 10 men behind the ball, clear it away. A poor delivery by Ono who drove the ball low and hard across the box. 0-0
54th: Now McKay brings down Hersi, right on the edge of the box. A silly tackle and now Ono can whip one in. 0-0
52th: McKay feeds through Berisha but up goes the offside flag! It's been an open and entertaining start to the second half and the crowd are right into it.
51th: And now Franjic goes close! He cut in from the right and hit it on his left from 30 yards out but it fizzed over the bar. 0-0
50th: Berisha! Almost, the step-overs were in overdrive but his shot was deflected for a corner. And unfortunately for Brisbane, it's a poor one from Broich.
47th: Shouts for handball from the WSW fans but the referee waves away the calls. Ono found space in the box and squared the ball, sending Brisbane defenders diving all over the place. Seems the 2nd half is starting much like the first. 0-0
46th: And we're back for the second half. Hope you've re-stocked the sandwiches and beveridge pile for the next 45+ minutes. 0-0
Well that certainly ended in a flurry. Brisbane sparked to life in the final minutes and the Wanderers will be thankful for the half-time whistle. I wonder what the coaches will say at the break. WSW started brightly but the game plan of long balls into Santalab was quickly picked apart by the Roar. Dimitri Petratos has had a tough time of it on the Brisbane's right wing. The "Slippery Fish", Henrique, will surely be called upon if Brisbane can't hit the front by the hour mark.
45th: One minute of added time to come.
45th: Covic called into action again, this time from a Luke Brattan drive from a tight angle. He holds it nicely. 0-0
44th: And Franjic hits the crossbar! It was a cross-cum-shot that looped over Covic's head. Despair among the Brisbane fans. 0-0
43rd: Ono spurns a chance after Bridge and Poljak created some nice build-up play. The Japanese star's touch let him down and instead of shooting from inside the box he ended up having to cross it in from the by-line. Brisbane clear and it remains 0-0
41st: A moment of panic for Covic as the ball spills in the box! Berisha, Topor-Stanley and the keeper collided after a long ball was dinked into the box. The veteran keeper was able to recover it though.
39th: It's a long-range effort from Poljak, but Theo is able to smother the ball with ease. And another yellow for WSW with Adam D'Appuzo going in the book for a challenge on Franjic. There's a few words shared afterwards. Good Grand Final football!
Referee Peter Green dishes out a yellow card to Western Sydney's Adam D'Apuzzo. Photo: Bradley Kanaris
34th: Santalab gives the thumbs up and back he comes on to the pitch. He's been impressive up front and has given North and Smith plenty of hassles.
33rd: There's a short stoppage in play with Santalab in the hands of the trainer. What an atmosphere at this game though. I'll go out on a limb and say the A-League has never seen anything like this.
Western Sydney Wanderers' fans settling in behind the goal #ALeagueGF #BRIvWSW pic.twitter.com/003nW8qkMC
— Sebastian Hassett (@sebth) May 4, 2014
30th: Laughs all round! Santalab goes to control a bouncing ball but kicks it into his face. Benny Hill stuff there. Even the WSW striker had to grin at that.
Goes good, Broich #ALeagueGF
— Phil Lutton (@phillutton78) May 4, 2014
29th: "Always look on the left side for Broich," chant the Roar fans (As in, Always look on the bright side of life).
Thomas Broich Photo: Getty Images
28th: Oh so close! Brisbane on the counter, McKay set up Broich and the German launched one from distance. It fizzed inches past the right post. Best chance of the match.
Almost 20 minutes down here and we're locked into an arm wrestle. Wanderers pressing well, Roar trying to find rhythm #ALeagueGF
— Sebastian Hassett (@sebth) May 4, 2014
Santalab's link-up has been top notch so far and his physical presence has rattled the Roar a little. #ALeagueGF
— Dominic Bossi (@DomBossi) May 4, 2014
Hot contest: Brendon Santalab of the Wanderers competes with Matthew Smith of the Roar. Photo: Getty Images
26th: About 2 minutes earlier there were a couple of great chances. Santalab's header ballooned up in the air and is caught by Theo. Brisbane took it down the other end but Berisha was unable to get a clean strike away from 12 yards.
24th: Now it's a yellow for Santalab who went in late on Berisha. The offside flag goes up from the resulting free kick and the attack comes to nothing.
Target man: the Roar's Besart Berisha feels a Brendon Santalab challenge. Photo: Matt Roberts
20th: Huge boos as a free kick is given against Broich for a foul on Polenz. Ono whips in the free kick and Brisbane clear. Now there's more boos as Santalab goes in late on Berisha. Ref keeps his cards in his pocket.
19th: And there it is, the first shot at goal that is. It's a tame effort from Ono and Theo catches comfortably from distance.
18th: Brisbane's central midfield trio of Brattan, Miller and McKay are slowly wrestling back control. But it's been a dour struggle so far. Neither side has had a clear-cut chance.
15th: The ball strikes Ivan Franjic on the arm in the area but no penalty given and not much protest from the Wanderers. Lucky escape for the Roar as the Wanderers pin them in their half for extended periods. 0-0
13th: Brisbane clear again but they're struggling to clear the ball from their own half. Besart Berisha has been a virtual spectator so far.
12th: And Luke Brattan hoofs it clear, but now we have another corner on the opposite wing. All Wanderers in the opening minutes.
11th: "RBB ole, ole, ole" is drowning out whatever the Roar fans are chanting. Another WSW corner...
9th: Broich has already been fouled a few times in the opening 10 minutes. He's been the most fouled player in the league this year, so no surprises. Fellow German Jerome Polenz will have the task of containing the Brisbane maestro on the left flank.
7th: Ono with a corner now...and Broich nods it clear. Referee Peter Green blows for a foul and Brisbane have possession.
7th: I'd say the Wanderers have started the brighter of these two sides so far, but there's not been much to write about. Santalab is playing in a lone striker role with Hersi and Bridge supporting on the flanks.
3rd: Ono floats a free kick into the Brisbane box but it clears a sea of players. Both sides struggling to build any attacks in the opening minutes.
1st: And we're under way! Game on! WSW to kick off. Just a reminder this will go to extra time and penalties if required if we're level after 90 minutes.
Shane Brady writes: The Cauldron is a picture for what should be a tight, tense decider between two teams of contrasting styles.
Suncorp is surely one of the great sporting theatres in Australia, particularly for football. There is barely a bad seat in the place and it is purpose-built for noise.
The RBB have one end the Den the other. Expect a chant-off to lift the roof but the Wanderers will be hoping to silence the Orange majority early because apart from the Den, Brisbane crowds can be a little passive.
I’m tipping the Wanderers by one. I think they’ll just be hungrier and have been steeled by tough Asian Champions league matches while the Roar have been cruising.
Here we go!
It's The Den vs The Red and Black Brigade in the fan battle. Between 8000-10,000 Wanderers fans have made the trip up to the River City for this one.
Wanderers fans show their support before the 2014 A-League Grand Final. Photo: Getty Images
What an atmosphere here at Suncorp! Almost a packed house and perfect conditions. A huge cheer as the players walk out onto the ground.
Here are the lineups for today's match:
Brisbane Roar
Michael Theo (GK), Matt Smith (C), Jade North, Ivan Franjic, Shane Stefanutto, Luke Brattan, Liam Miller, Thomas Broich, Dimitri Petratos, Besart Berisha.
Subs: Matthew Acton, James Donachie, Steve Lustica, Henrique, Jean Carlos Solarzano
Western Sydney Wanderers
Ante Covic (GK) , Matthew Spiranovic, Jerome Polenz, Adam D'Apuzzo, Nikolai Topor-Stanley (C), Mark Bridge, Youssouf Hersi, Shinji Ono, Mateo Poljak, Iacopo La Rocca, Brendon Santalab.
Subs: Jerrad Tyson, Aaron Mooy, Shannon Cole, Tomi Juric, Labinot Haliti
Brilliant stuff whoever did this! @ALeague @brisbaneroar @wswanderersfc #ALeagueGF #BRIvWSW @starwars pic.twitter.com/m20bOLmfci
— Blair Hughes (@MrBlairHughes) May 4, 2014
That sure was intimidating as @wswanderersfc take over @suncorpstadium for #ALeagueGF pic.twitter.com/b9n3B8ZI6v
— Sam Squiers (@SamSquiers) May 4, 2014
Hope you're settling in for what should be an exciting afternoon of football.
Kickoff is at 4pm local time, with Fox Sports 2 showing the game live. SBS has the match on delay, and its telecast begins at 4.30pm.
If you're following the game on Twitter, the official hashtags for today's match are #BRIvWSW and #ALeagueGF.
Brisbane Roar tweets from @brisbaneroar, while the Wanderers are @wswanderers.
Here we come: Wanderers fans take over Caxton Street on their way to the Cauldron. Photo: Matt Roberts
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