Riku Danzaki completed a brilliant come-from-behind victory as he fired Brisbane Roar into fifth on the A-League ladder with a last-minute winner in a 2-1 defeat of Western United at Moreton Daily Stadium on Wednesday.
In a tight contest, Lachlan Wales broke the deadlock on the hour mark but Josh Brindell-South equalised 12 minutes later for Brisbane with a tap in at the far post, pouncing onto a rebound from a stinging shot by Alex Parsons.
The Roar looked to have taken the lead in the 82nd minute through Dylan Wenzel-Halls, only for the goal to be chalked off for handball following a VAR review.
But the home side regrouped and claimed all three points in dramatic fashion when Corey Brown chipped a perfect pass forward to Danzaki, who finished hard and low past Ryan Scott to cap the comeback and sew up a seventh successive game without defeat for Warren Moon’s men.
With some stunning goal-line blocks from Brown, Jamie Young and Macauley Gillesphey along the way – plus an earlier series of Scott saves in the Western United goal – the match was already headed for classic status before Danzaki’s decisive strike.
Not surprisingly, Head Coach Moon was ecstatic with not only the three points but also the manner in which they were gained.
“It’s not so much about the table or the ladder, it’s more about us and our progression as a squad,” Moon said when asked about the significance of the victory.
“1-0 down and that might be the first time we’ve come back from behind to win so that’s another tick in the box for where we want to go as a group.
“To do it that way, to never give up and show that character and resilience and keep going to the end, we thoroughly deserved it. Really happy.”
While acknowledging the officials were right to disallow the Wenzel-Halls strike, Moon praised his players for pushing past the disappointment of that moment.
“That’s the group we’ve got. We’re really tight-knit. We’re together,” he said. “As you could with the celebration of the goal, it was one in all in.”
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The Roar are now back in the top six with at least one game in hand on each of the four teams above going into a tough away test against ladder leaders Melbourne City at AAMI Park on Saturday afternoon.
Following that, the team return home to host second-placed Central Coast Mariners on Wednesday, 12 May, exactly two weeks on from putting four past the Gosford side on the road.
GOALS
Western United – Wales 60′ – 0-1
The visitors produce a slick passing move following a change in possession and substitute Wales makes no mistake with the finish.
Brisbane Roar – Brindell-South 72′ – 1-1
Brisbane finish off a period of sustained pressure when Parsons hits a fizzing, low left-footed shot which Scott can only parry into the path of Brindell-South.
Brisbane Roar – Danzaki 90+4′ – 2-1
Brown produces the game-breaking pass, cleverly chipping the ball to Danzaki who smashes home the winner then celebrates accordingly.
MATCH DETAILS
A-League 2021 Matchweek 19: Brisbane Roar vs Western United
Moreton Daily Stadium, Redcliffe
Wednesday 5th April
Brisbane Roar 2 (Brindell-South 72′, Danzaki 90+4′)
Wellington Phoenix 1 (Wales 60′)
Half-time: 0-0
