Perez fails to deliver as McKay's Roar march on.

All the hype about Patricio Perez the Mariners star Argentinean counted for nothing as he failed to deliver in the game that mattered, the A-League semi-final.

A close game and the Mariners were perhaps unlucky not to score as they hit the post a couple of times but in truth it was Perez with some key space and ball, particularly in the second half who could not deliver a final ball, or test the Roar keeper with any decent shot that saw the Mariners needing a miracle in Brisbane.

John Hutchison was preferred to Mustafa Amini - the enforcer over the playmaker and perhaps it was the football purist in me who smirked as Matt MCKay stole the ball from Hutch and then released it instantly for Kosta Barbarouses. The young Kiwi has a lot to do, but he done it as Robbie would say, and 1-0 Brissy.

Matt McKay and Brisbane's fitness again started to shine through as they simply over ran the Mariners men. McKay found the heat no problem starting and ending the move that could see 50,000 in Brisbane for a Grand Final in three weeks.

When it counted McKay beat Perez hands down.