Queensland Roar into preliminary final

Queensland Roar beat Central Coast Mariners 2-1 at Suncorp Stadium this evening to win the minor A-League semi-final 4-1 on aggregate before 24,000 spectators.

"It was a good, solid performance from the team," said Roar coach, Frank Farina.

"We're playing with a lot of confidence."

The Mariners had enough of the play to do better, but Roar's incisive counter-attacking spelled danger throughout the match.

Michael Zullo was one of Queensland's most effective players and he went close in the 8th minute with a powerful low drive from the left.

In the 18th minute, Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic did well to save a shot from Mitch Nichols, who had been put through after a one-two with Zullo.

A minute later, the Mariners went close after a free-kick from the right found Dylan MacCallister at the far post, but his header was blocked by Roar keeper Liam Reddy.

In the 21st minute, Matt Simon's shot was beaten out by Reddy and the Roar counter-attacked immediately and scored.

Vukovic parried a shot by Sergio Van Dijk and McKay was first to the loose ball. He chipped it back into the middle, where a poor clearing header went only to Massimo Murdocca, whose fierce shot was turned in by Nichols to make it 2-0.

Zullo went close in the 29th minute when he switched wings, but his shot from the right went just wide.

The Mariners had Nigel Boogaard and Paul O'Grady booked in the closing stages of the first half as the visitors became increasingly frustrated.

McKay made it 2-0 four minutes after the break. He was released down the left by Nichols and beat Vukovic at his near post.

It could have been 3-0 in the 52nd minute, but Hyuk-Su Seo's shot was turned onto the post by a diving Vukovic.

Nicky Mrdja pulled a goal back for the Mariners in the 64th minute when he squeezed a low shot under Reddy, who should have stopped the ball.

"No complaints," said Mariners' coach, Lawrie McKinna. "Queensland were the better side over the two legs."