Brisbane Roar have extended their record-breaking run of unbeaten matches to 24 games with a solid 2-1 victory over North Queensland Fury at Skilled Park.
After Cyclone Yasi made Fury-s usual home ground Dairy Farmers Stadium unplayable, the match was re-located to the Gold Coast.
The Fury-s Brisbane-born marksman David Williams posed an early threat to the Roar defence, with two chances in the opening stages to give his side a shock lead against the newly-crowned Premiers.
Just three minutes into the encounter, he beat the advancing Brisbane goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos to send the ball inching towards goal, but without power behind his shot, centre-back Milan Susak cleaned up easily.
Williams- next chance fell four minutes later, fashioning a more dangerous shot on the turn but the ball bounced just wide of the post.
Despite the home side-s early enthusiasm, it was Brisbane who broke the deadlock in the 14th minute with some impressive build-up play down the left wing, courtesy of returning skipper Matt McKay.
Cutting inside a North Queensland defender, McKay played the ball to striker James Meyer who in turn laid the ball off for Mitch Nichols, who was lurking on the edge of the box.
After his original shot bounced fortunately back into his path, the 21-year-old midfielder beat Fury custodian Justin Pasfield with a sweet strike on his unfavoured left foot to open the scoring at Skilled Park.
While both sides had opportunities in front of goal as the match progressed, no clear cut chances eventuated despite Brisbane-s persistence through McKay, Nichols and Kosta Barbarouses.
Barbarouses was making a nuisance of himself amongst the Fury back four early in the second stanza, keen to make amends for his recent goal drought, having not found the back of the net in five Hyundai A-League appearances.
His best chance for his 11th goal of the season fell five minutes after the restart when he found himself with acres of space with the goal in clear sight, only to be denied by a classy, well-timed challenge from North Queensland defender Mark Hughes.
The Kiwi striker continued to be involved and soon had an assist to his name after he flicked on a cheeky touch from German import Thomas Broich, allowing substitute Henrique to chip Pasfield for the Roar-s second of the night – the Brazilian-s first goal since returning from a long-term arm injury last month.
Brisbane continued to dominate the encounter but the home side were handed a consolation goal in the 65th minute after a shot from Chris Grossman took a nasty touch off the back of Susak.
Trying an adventurous effort from outside the area, the deflection from the former Roar player-s shot deceived Theoklitos to give North Queensland a glimmer of hope in the closing stages of the game.
As the full time whistle approached, Barbarouses had a golden chance for Brisbane-s third but his first-touch shot was denied by a quick reactive save from Pasfield.
After the game, Brisbane Roar Head Coach Postecoglou admitted his side was below par on the night but acknowledged the difficult circumstances that the match was played in.
“We got the job done, but it was a weird night – Tuesday night, not many people here, two sides playing away from home,” Postecoglou said.
“The boys fell into that kind of mode as well, the intensity wasn-t there.
“It was almost like a training run, it wasn-t smooth but we got the job done, got the three points and another win.”
North Queensland Fury 1 (Chris GROSSMAN 65-)
Brisbane Roar 2(Mitch NICHOLS 14-, HENRIQUE 58-)
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Skilled Park, Robina
Local kick-off: 7.00pm (8.00pm AEDT)
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Assistant referees: Ashley Beecham and David Walsh
Fourth official: Matt Gillett
Crowd: 1,003
North Queensland Fury: 1. Justin PASFIELD (gk), 2. Jack HINGERT, 3. Brad McDONALD, 5. Mark HUGHES, 6. Ufuk TALAY (c) (12. Panagiotis NIKAS 60-), 8. Adam CASEY (21. Jason SPAGNUOLO 68-), 11. David WILLIAMS, 13. Andre KILIAN (17. Alex READ 77-), 14. Chris GROSSMAN, 16. Simon STOREY, 18. Brett STUDMAN
Substitutes Not Used: 28. Sebastian USAI (gk)
Yellow Cards: David WILLIAMS 70-, Justin PASFIELD 76-
Red Cards: Nil
Brisbane Roar: 1. Michael THEOKLITOS (gk), 2. Matt SMITH, 4. Shane STEFANUTTO, 5. Ivan FRANJIC, 6. Erik PAARTALU, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 15. Matt McKAY (c), 17. Mitch NICHOLS, 21. James MEYER (10. HENRIQUE 45-), 22. Thomas BROICH (14. Rocky VISCONTE 64-), 23. Milan SUSAK
Substitutes Not Used: 12. Matt MUNDY, 20. Andrew REDMAYNE (gk)
Yellow Cards: Milan SUSAK 32-
Red Cards: Nil
