Brisbane Roar have ended their regular season on a high, celebrating their return to Suncorp Stadium with a memorable 4-0 victory over local rivals Gold Coast United.
The Roar are now the first team to go through a Hyundai A-League season without losing at home, the result also stretching their record-breaking run of unbeaten games to 25.
Having not ever beaten Gold Coast in five attempts, Brisbane were eager to notch up their first win against their southern opponents and did so in some style.
In the absence of strikers Jean Carlos Solorzano and James Meyer, both out with injuries, Kosta Barbarouses took his place at the pointy end of Brisbane-s formation and wasted no time in giving Brisbane the best possible start, just three minutes into the encounter.
Receiving the ball from skipper Matt McKay, Barbarouses- curling effort from the edge of the area sailed past United ‘keeper and fellow New Zealander Glen Moss to set the tone in which Brisbane intended to continue.
Without a goal since he found the back of the net the last time these two sides met on Boxing Day, Barbarouses- pleasure was evident as he celebrated his early goal in front of the 20,831 strong crowd.
It was turning into one-way traffic on the Suncorp Stadium pitch with Gold Coast struggling to stifle the energetic attacking pairing of goal hero Barbarouses and lively winger Henrique.
Brisbane continued to ask questions of their opponents- defence as the game wore on and defender Ivan Franjic was soon amongst the action after German playmaker Thomas Broich won a free kick just outside the 18-yard box.
Broich deceived the United defence by cutting the ball back to Franjic, whose thunderous shot from distance brought about a diving save from the busy Coast custodian.
The Roar-s dominance continued to pay dividends and they soon had their second of the night, courtesy of a goal of the season contender from towering midfielder Erik Paartalu.
After a well-timed cross from Broich, Paartalu hammered a spectacular, left-footed volley past Moss to give his side the assurance of a two-goal buffer heading into the break.
The visitors were much more active in the second half, calling Brisbane goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos into action soon after referee Peter Green re-opened proceedings at the Milton stadium.
Firstly, Shane Smeltz first sent a powerful shot from a free kick crashing into the crossbar before Anderson-s long-range strike forced a parry away from Theoklitos, but the Roar defence held strong to keep United scoreless.
On the hour mark, Brisbane were forced into an early change after Mitch Nichols injured his ankle allowing coach Ange Postecoglou to throw fellow young gun Rocky Visconte into the fray.
The change saw no difference in the home side-s momentum and Henrique-s busy work across the park soon yielded Brisbane-s third goal after he hit a sweet strike inside the area to almost guarantee his team the three points.
His second goal in as many games turned out to be his last contribution on the night and was soon replaced by midfield debutant Chris Bush.
Postecoglou emptied his bench with well-deserved substitution quickly after, bringing on reserve goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne for his first taste of Hyundai A-League action this season.
The Roar-s night was complete after 85 minutes, skipper McKay beating the offside trap to give teammate Broich the easiest of tap-ins for Brisbane-s fourth.
Brisbane Roar coach Ange Postecoglou couldn-t be happier about his side-s performance, praising their efforts throughout the season.
“I thought it was a fitting way to end our regular season, we-ve been good all year and we-ve been better than anyone else and I think it was important to finish it off that way,” he said.
“I thought it was an accurate reflection on our season from start to finish so I am really proud of the players.
“I spoke before the game about making sure we finish it off in the right way and we did.”
Brisbane Roar 4 (Kosta BARBAROUSES 3-, Erik PAARTALU 42-, HENRIQUE 66-, Thomas BROICH 85-)
Gold Coast United 0
Saturday, 12 February 2011
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Local kick-off: 8:15pm (9.15pm AEDT)
Referee: Peter Green
Assistant referees: Ashley Beecham & David Walsh
Fourth official: Jarred Gillett
Crowd: 20,831
Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 2, FS2 HD and Sky Sports 1 (NZ). To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au
Brisbane Roar: 1. Michael THEOKLITOS (gk) (20. Andrew REDMAYNE (gk) 80-), 2. Matt SMITH, 4. Shane STEFANUTTO, 5. Ivan FRANJIC, 6. Erik PAARTALU, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 10. HENRIQUE (19. Chris BUSH 67-), 15. Matt McKAY (c), 17. Mitch NICHOLS (14. Rocky VISCONTE 59-), 22. Thomas BROICH, 23. Milan SUSAK
Substitutes Not Used: 12. Matt MUNDY
Yellow Cards:Nil
Red Cards:Nil
Gold Coast United: 1.Glen MOSS (gk), 2.Steve PANTELIDIS, 3.Michael THWAITE (c), 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Zenon CARAVELLA, 8.ANDERSON, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 15.Tahj MINNIECON (32. Steven LUSTICA 78-), 16.Kristian REES (23.Steve FITZSIMMONS 74-), 22.Adama TRAORE, 33.Peter PERCHTOLD.
Substitutes: 20.Scott HIGGINS (gk), 27.Chris HAROLD
Yellow Cards: Steve PANTELIDIS 36-, Zenon CARAVELLA 55-
Red Cards:Nil
