2. BESART BERISHA

Brisbane Roar v Perth Glory (2-1), Suncorp Stadium, Grand Final 2011-12

What is more dramatic than a stoppage-time winner in a final? How about the winner coming from a spot-kick! Or how about that spot-kick coming from an alleged dive. The 2011-12 Grand Final had one of the most spectacular endings of all time thanks to a familiar figure in the Roar line-up, a certain Besart Berisha. An Ivan Franjic own-goal had Perth Glory 1-0 up in the second-half of their first ever A-League Grand Final, but Berisha cancelled it out with an equaliser six minutes from time. It was 1-1 and almost everybody in attendance or watching on TV thought the season showdown was headed for extra-time for the third consecutive year. Not this time. Berisha was ‘clipped’ as he shot for goal deep into injury-time and was awarded a penalty by ref Jarred Gillett. There was plenty of debate from the Glory players but the whistle blower was not about to change his decision, leaving Berisha to coolly slot away the winner in the 97th minute. The result sealed a 2-1 win for Roar and their second consecutive championship.

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