Brisbane beat Central Coast 4-2 on penalties Sunday in the final of Australian football's A-League, rallying from 2-0 down in extra time to claim its first title and extend its record unbeaten run to 28 games.
Midfielder Eric Paartalu headed the equalizer with the last touch of extra time and goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos saved twice in the penalty shootout to clinch Brisbane's first grand final victory - his third from five appearances.
Central Coast shocked Brisbane with two extra-time goals after the teams had been locked at 0-0 after normal time.
Brisbane seemed beaten but pulled one goal back through substitute Henrique before Paartalu headed the equalizer from a corner in the 120th minute.
Theoklitos, who has previously won three A-League titles with the Melbourne Victory, saved penalties from Danny McBreen and Pedj Bojic during the shootout to give Brisbane a 4-2 win. He dived low to his left to parry McBreen's shot around the upright and high to the right to make a one-handed save that sent Bojic's attempt over the crossbar.
''What can I say, once again we showed great character,'' Theoklitos, the former Norwich City keeper, said.
''(We were) 2-0 down with 15 minutes to go and (captain) Matty McKay pulled us in and said 'there's 15 minutes to go and how many times have we scored two goals in the last 15 minutes?'.
''Full credit to these boys, they're remarkable and obviously we had a bit of luck in the penalties. Three for five from me in finals and it means a lot to me to be the first player to win three. We had a great time at the Melbourne Victory but the year we've had here will never be repeated.''
Brisbane was unbeaten in six matches against Central Coast this season, including three during the finals series. Twice in the finals series, it came back from 2-0 down.
Paartalu was presented a week ago with the award for A-League Goal of the Year but said his equalizer topped all previous efforts.
''It was just one of those games where we dominated for most of the early part of the game but Central Coast took their chances which we didn't,'' he said. ''To be honest I gave up hope thinking it wasn't our day today and the Mariners would win the championship but full credit to these boys. We came back from the dead.
''I can't remember what happened (with the tying goal). I don't know if it hit my face or my head but it went in and that's all that mattered. It couldn't have finished any better.''
Central Coast had defended doggedly against a more threatening Brisbane team through the 94 minutes of normal time but came into their own in extra time, sparked by the introduction of teenager Bernie Ibini-Isei.
He had a hand in the opening goal by Adam Kwasnik, from a 96th-minute corner, and combined with Kwasnik to set up the second for Oliver Bozanic.
Substitute Henrique pulled one back for Brisbane before Paartalu equalized with the last touch of extra time.
''I'm very proud of the guys'' Brisbane captain Matt McKay said. ''They dug deep and you can't get any better than this.''
