Melbourne City's comeback 3-2 win over Brisbane has secured a finals berth after a sensational late charge up the A-League Men ladder.
A month ago City were languishing towards the bottom. Five wins from six games, and victories in their last four, has rocketed them into the post-season where opposition teams will be more than wary of the Aurelio Vidmar-coached side.
City's win at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night also ended the finals hopes of Macarthur FC, Wellington and Central Coast.
"I'm very pleased," Vidmar said.
"We've had a pretty tough season but we are just managing to find an extra gear.
"We've got a top attitude. The thought of being complacent tonight was definitely on my mind ... but I prefer when we're under pressure."
A 44th-minute goal from Roar striker Justin Vidic threatened to throw the finals race wide open.
City winger Marcus Younis, rightly touted as a World Cup bolter, equalised in the 61st minute with a penalty he slotted home after a stutter-step.
He added another five minutes later and Medin Memeti a third in the 80th minute to sink the second-last placed Roar, despite a late stunner by Brisbane's Youstin Salas.
"(Younis) is always dangerous, he's always alive, he's always anticipating what's going to happen next, especially in that front third," Vidmar added.
"He's been very good for us, absolutely."
Vidic scored his fourth of the season and first of 2026 when a shot from Georgios Vrakas deflected towards the striker, who volleyed it with perfect technique to give the hosts the lead.
Vidic headed just wide after the break as the hosts found their mojo.
Hopes of a win in their final home game of the season sunk when Noah Maieroni brought down Younis in the penalty area.
Younis converted and added his second after a Memeti shot was blocked by Roar goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis. Younis volleyed in the rebound with panache to secure the lead.
Vidic had another great chance but was shouldered to the ground by German Ferreyra in a contest deemed legal by the referee.
Memeti's tap-in extended the lead but Brisbane defender Salas set up a tense final minutes with a classic left-foot volley from outside the box in added time.
"It was a game we should have won," Roar coach Michael Valkanis, who brought on young guns Quinn MacNicol and Niall Thom late, said.
"Towards the end we saw the future with all the young players that came on. We saw their energy, their endeavour, their fight and fearlessness to attack.
"We should have exploited some of the opportunities we had. But that has been the story of 2026. We are not hitting the back of the net with the amount of chances we are creating."
