Ok, what I'm going to do is a small write-up of my day yesterday. It was the grand final of the A-League 2010/2011 season. You may not know/like the league, but what I am trying to portray is the sheer magnitude of the occasion, and what turned out to be the single greatest sporting event I've ever been to live.

Firstly, let me just say, like it or not, Australia puts more empahsis on this grand final, then the league season. I do not like it...the team that leads after the 30 games is rightly the best team in the league...but for whatever reason, the premiers are oversahdowed by the champions of the final (unless they're the same team). So, the top 6 teams in the league qualify for the finals series...my team Brisbane Roar, won the league, and going into the final were riding a 27 game unbeaten streak!

First played second in a two legged final, with the winner going on to, and hosting the final. Third played sixth in a one legged elimination final. Fourth played fifth in the same thing. That left two teams from third-sixth to play off in another one legged elimination final. The winner of that match goes on to play the loser of the two-legged final (which turned out to be the second placed, Central Coast). Central Coast managed to win that last final (while Brisbane had the week off). And that's how the final was decided...so ultimately, it again came down to first v second, in the grand final to be played at Suncorp stadium, Brisbane.

08.30am: Wake up with butterflies as I nervously wait for the final. I couldn't eat anything all day, such were the nerves.

12.00pm: Leave for the train station. An anxious hour train ride would ensue, with a lot of other Brisbane fans making their way to the ground.

02.00pm: The gates open, people start flooding into the ground. I find my seat...the sun is beating down and it's damn hot because of it (I would later find out I've been sunburnt...damn)

04.00pm: The players come out for the game...we observe a moments silence for the Japanese before the Australian national anthem is delivered.

4.10pm: Kick-off. 50,168 people in the stadium (only about 2,000 of them visitors).

0minutes-20minutes: Central Coast are dominating the game, as Brisbane struggle to find their passes. A couple of missed opportunities for Central Coast, and a good moment for Brisbane, but they're denied by the bar.

20minutes-half time: Brisbane settle into their groove, and start to dominate possesion, but neither side look clinical in front of goal. Most alarmingly...on the brink of half time...the rain starts.

Half time-full time: The rain starts absolutely pissing down. I'm sitting in the fourth row, with no cover, getting drenched. Worst of all, my glasses are getting covered in rain, and also fogging up. I can't see anything. I take off my glasses...and can't see much better. Now I'm sad. This goes on for the first 20-25 minutes of the second half. The rain eventually leaves, and I'm able to focus better on the game, what with being able to see and all. Again Brisbane have the better of the second half (not by a lot, but they were the better team). However no goals would come for either team. Central Coast lucky to not be a man down after a terrible challenge from Hutchinson in injury time went unpunished...not even a yellow.

Full time: 0-0, but it hasn't been boring...extra time to come. At this stage, I'm very wet, but also sunburnt, and I'm still as nervous as ever.

ET First Half: NOOOOOOO...total devastation for the 48,000 odd Brisbane fans, as Central Coast get not one, but two goals in the fifteen minute period. Surely they couldn't blow this lead...they'd been in two grand finals before and lost two. This was there's, they weren't going to lose again. The first goal hurt Brisbane, the second goal damn near killed them. The crowd was stunned into near silence, as they contemplate how it happened.

ET Second Half: Brisbane captain McKay rallies the troops, and the crowd life for one final hurrah. Five minutes into the second half of extra time, and Brisbane don't look much like scoring. Time is ticking away, and a couple of thousand fans leave over the next 5 minutes.

117th minute: A glimmer of hope for Brisbane, as Brazilian substitute, Henrique, pulls one back. The roar in the crowd is immense, and the Brisbane chants ring loud....but it seems like a consolation goal.

120th minute: Last minute of extra time...can Brisbane pull something out their asses? It's a corner. Thomas Broich swings in the corner, Paartalu (defensive midfielder) rises, and heads it home! The stadium erupts...the loudest crowd I have ever been in. Everyone is jumping up and down, hugging strangers...yelling, cheering. Unbelievable sounds and sights reverbarate around Suncorp. There was no hope for Brisbane, but they still managed it. 2 goals 4 magical minutes. This match is going to penalties!

At this stage, I was just about crapping myself...being a fan of Chelsea, as well as Brisbane, I know just how brutal penalties can be...I did laugh at the thought of those idiots leaving early...missing the most unbelievable come back in Australian football history.

Penalty one: John 'lucky to be on the pitch' Hutchinson will take for Central Coast. Low and slightly to the left of centre. Theoklitos guesses the right way but lets the ball slip underneath him. The crowd groans...at this point I was thinking we'd blown an early chance for a lead, and was unsure we'd get another chance.

Penalty two: Brisbane full-back Franjic steps up, and confidently sends the keeper the wrong way. 1-1

Penalty three: Mariners captain Alex Wilkinson sends Theo the wrong way. 2-1 Mariners.

Penalty four: Paartalu hits it very low and hard to the right...keeper guesses the right way, and gets in a full dive, but can't get a finger on it. Terriffic penalty.

Penalty five: McBreen for the Mariners. Hits it hard to his right, Theo with a full stretch dive tips it round the post. The crowd errupts!

Penalty six: Brisbane captain McKay hits it hard and high to his right. The keeper goes the wrong way. The crowd errupts once more. 3-2 Brisbane.

Penalty seven: Bojic for the Mariners...hits it high and hard to his left. Theoklitos guesses the right way. and makes an awesome one handed save. Brisbane 3-2 with a chance to win it. (oh yeah, and the crow errupts)

Penalty eight: Henrique to win it for Brisbane....and he does!!!! The stadium erupts once more, as the Mariners players collapse in anguish and the Brisbane players celebrate a famous victory.

And there we have it, the most amazing match I've been to. It was over for all money, then goal, goal, amazing penalty shootout win. From the depth of despair, to undescribable feelings of joy...not to mention extending it to 28 games unbeaten ;)

And some people don't like football...

It was a great match, though I didn't really mind who won. Great advertisement for the game in Australia. If only the atmosphere was like that every week then a few more people might be converted.

It was a great match, though I didn't really mind who won. Great advertisement for the game in Australia. If only the atmosphere was like that every week then a few more people might be converted.

The atmosphere really was indescribable...so different to what you see on tv. Although, I've watched the reply of the last 20 minutes several times already...at it still gives my chills, even without the amazing crowd noise.

I've felt nothing like the feeling when Brisbane scored the second goal before. Unbelievable.

I haven't got to as many games as I'd have liked this season (haven't had much cash to spare), but I'm trying to wrangle enough cash for a season ticket next season.

If it is anything like US sports, winning the regular season title means Zippy (nada, nothing), and it all comes down to who wins at the end of the playoffs.

Being a foundation member of Sydney FC, this game was really, really amazing to watch. The two best teams in the competition by far and a spectacle to match.

As for the atmosphere, well, fortunately, even with Sydney's sh*t crowds the past two season, we don't have to wait for a Grand Final to experience an atmosphere like that ;)

Yeah...I'm still in disbelief over just how awesome the afternoon/night was.

The sheer drama of the game made it easily the best final in A-League history.