Roar can go all the way, says Kosmina - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Roar can go all the way, says Kosmina

By Jim Morton 09/02/2008 12:01:50 PM Comments (0)

Rival coaches Frank Farina and John Kosmina believe Queensland Roar can run the gauntlet all the way to the A-League title.

Queensland coach Farina and Sydney FC counterpart Kosmina had been in disagreement with each other all week in a war of words before the Roar's 2-0 elimination final win at Suncorp Stadium.

But the old Socceroos teammates and friends are now singing from the same hymn sheet with the Roar preparing for next Sunday's preliminary final.

The Queenslanders will travel south to meet the loser of Sunday's major semi-final tie between Newcastle and Central Coast in a sudden-death clash where a grand final berth is the reward.

Farina is under no illusions the Roar, who led the competition going into the final round of the regular season, are capable of taking the premiership from fourth.

"I've always believed we can win it," he said.

"We narrowly missed the minor premiership, with one game to go we slipped up.

"This was one step towards that (the premiership) but we have to go further."

Despite being dejected by the Blues loss, their first away defeat of the season, Kosmina praised the Roar's pace and potential.

"I think they're good enough to win it," he said.

"I was having a chat to an old mate of mine up here and he said 'whoever gets through is probably going to go on with it'.

"And I think they have every chance of winning it."

Kosmina said Gosford, Newcastle or Sydney - where the grand final will be staged - wouldn't hold any demons for the Roar.

Newcastle, 2-0 victors in the first leg against the Mariners, need only draw or lose by less than two in Gosford on Sunday to book a grand final berth.

Farina laid down the law to his young side not to be satisfied by the success in their maiden finals tie.

He said the job was "nowhere near" finished.

"We haven't achieved anything yet, we've just won a tie against Sydney," said the former Socceroos coach.

"We've got to win two games if we want to win the grand final.

"At this stage, it's a good win, the boys will celebrate it, but we just have to get back and work hard."

Striker Reinaldo limped off midway through the second half on Friday night with a cork to the back of his right knee but is expected to recover in time to play next Sunday.

Reinaldo put Queensland on track for the preliminary final with his seventh and best goal of the season in the 13th minute.

The match was sealed with a controversial 83rd-minute penalty by Sasa Ognenovski after a Tony Popovic push on Taj Minniecom in the box.

Captain Popovic described Mark Shield's decision as "under-6" rules while Kosmina bit his tongue and praised the "Queensland crowd" for giving the home side an extra man advantage.

Roar skipper and Socceroos defender Craig Moore pulled up fine despite having played two big-stage matches in three days.

The Roar have six players who have conceded yellow cards in the two finals matches and another would rub them out of the grand final if they qualify.

Despite Sydney's second straight fourth-place finish, Popovic said the inaugural champions were in good shape after Kosmina took over from the sacked Branko Culina.

"It all turned when Kossie came in," he said. "We had a great win first up and we had a great run.

"The future looks good for the club."

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