Broich brilliant, but bitter

Better, but still not there ... Thomas Broich was not happy post game. Source: Dave Hunt / AAP

When the stakes rise, so too do great players.

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The competition commences on, 27 January 2013 at 8:30pm AEDT and closes on 5 April 2013 at 5:00pm AEDT and is divided into 10 weekly periods.

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Thomas Broich’s glorious goal against Melbourne Heart is one of the goals of the season, but after the match, Brisbane Roar’s talisman vented his disgust at the way his teammates clocked off in the final moments of the game. 

"I think we were quite ill-disciplined and selfish and I’m disappointed with some of the boys," Berisha told Fox Sports after the match. 

"Very complacent, lazy … overshadows the great first-half."

Coach Mike Mulvey agreed with his captain, declaring much improvement was needed ahead of next round’s do-or-die blockbuster against Sydney FC at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night. 

Read about the thrilling final-round equation here.

"If we’re serious about achieving anything this season … then if we play the way we did in the second-half we’ll be giving opposition chances," Mulvey said. 

It was a stark contract to passages in the first period, which prompted Fox Sports commentator Robbie Slater to declare: "the champions turned up today". 

Despite opening the scoring via a dubious penalty, which earned the wrath of Melbourne Heart coach John Aloisi, the Roar should have been a couple up on the back of some of their first-half football. 

Broich’s goal is a genuine contender for the goal of the season – but so too are the two other nominees for this week’s astoundingly good goal of the week. 

Perth’s display against Melbourne Victory was full of top-class highlights; Danny Vukovic’s save kept them in the game, but Chris Harold and Josh Risdon’s goals are ready-made for the highlights reels for years to come. 

Check them out in the video at the top of the page and then follow the prompts below to enter the Goal of the Week competition. 

To enter, simply visit our competition page here each week to vote for your favourite goal and submit your details below.

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Brilliant Lions claim NAB Cup title

Victorious ... Lions captain Jonathan Brown celebrates a goal. Source: Andrew Tauber / News Limited

Brisbane Lions claim their first title since 2003 with a comprehensive 41-point win over Carlton in the NAB Cup grand final.

The Lions lead early before Carlton took over in the middle stages of the match but the only undefeated team in the pre-season were determined to stay that way, prevailing 0.16.13 (109) to 2.7.8 (68).

Midfielder Daniel Rich claimed the Michael Tuck Medal for best on ground with 23 touches and a goal.

It was fitting reward for the Lions, who had been forced to travel for much of the NAB Cup and were controversially robbed of a home final because the Gabba was unavailable.

The Michael Voss-coached team stormed out to an early lead thanks to a five-goal first quarter but were quickly pegged back by Carlton.

The Blues took the momentum in the second quarter, kicking five majors - including a super goal - to take a 13-point margin into the main break.

The tide swung again in the third term as the Lions re-emerged after the break with another five goal burst.

Led by inspirational co-captain Jonathan Brown (five goals), the Lions held on in the final term to claim the pre-season premiership and enter the season full of confidence.

More to come ...

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Brilliant Bale haunts Inter again

Europa League ... Steaua Bucharest's Raul Rusescu scores past a helpless Peter Cech. Source: Vadim Ghirda / AFP

Chelsea's indifferent form continued as a controversial penalty gave Steaua Bucharest a 1-0 victory in Romania over a distinctly off-colour Blues.

Chelsea weren't at the races from the word go, and found themselves behind just after the half-hour mark after to a hotly disputed penalty was given to the home side.

Ryan Bertrand was adjudged to have fouled dangerman Raul Rusescu as he went up for a header, and the top scorer in the Romania league got up to take the spot-kick himself, smashing the ball under Petr Cech.

Although they initially looking to have woken up after falling behind, Chelsea toiled away, but couldn't find that cutting edge all evening, and will have to do much better in the return leg at Stamford Bridge.

In Moscow, Anzhi Makhachkala and Newcastle United played out a dour goalless draw in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie in Moscow.

The game, played on the plastic pitch at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, struggled to ever get going on a freezing night in the Russian capital.

Toon boss Alan Pardew made seven changes from the side that lost at Swansea last weekend, with Hatem Ben Arfa making his first start since December after recovering from a hamstring injury

Anzhi boss Guus Hiddink named a strong line-up, with former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o, Brazil international Willian and ex-Chelsea duo Yuri Zhirkov and Lassana Diarra in the side.

Read more: http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/283940/report

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