Brisbane Roar scored a sensational 4-3 win over Adelaide United in their Foxtel National Youth League clash at Goodwin Park on Saturday afternoon, coming from 2-0 down at half time thanks to a brilliant hat-trick from substitute Jai Ingham.
Brisbane Roar scored a sensational 4-3 win over Adelaide United in their Foxtel National Youth League clash at Goodwin Park on Saturday afternoon, coming from 2-0 down at half time thanks to a brilliant hat-trick from substitute Jai Ingham.
Adelaide’s powerful No. 9, Anthony Costa, grabbed a hat-trick of his own, while Brandon Borrello got Brisbane’s comeback underway with a 63rd minute goal.
A thrilling final few minutes saw Brisbane take a 3-2 lead, then the Reds draw level with minutes remaining, before Ingham won it for the Roar in injury time.
A flurry of early chances set the tempo for an action-packed game, with the first clear opportunity falling to United’s Nikola Mileusnic, who burst through the Roar defence only to sky his shot with only the keeper to beat.
Brisbane could have gone ahead soon after when Jordan Lampard hit the woodwork and Borrello picked up the rebound only to send his attempt wide.
Moments later, Devante Clut put Shannon Brady through with a delightful no-look pass, but Adelaide keeper Paul Izzo was able to block the shot.
Down the other end, a Costa shot was cleared off the line by Lachlan Jackson after good lead up work from Bruce Kamau.
Those two would combine again for the opening goal, with Kamau skipping along the byline and cutting back for Costa, who made no mistake with the finish.
Costa had his second six minutes later when he was left alone to turn in a corner from close range.
Brisbane had their moments as well, with one neat combination between Brady, Patrick Theodore and Samed Altundag almost bearing fruit, but the No. 9’s shot dribbled wide of the post.
The elusive Kamau came close to a goal of his own five minutes before the break when he was given acre of space on the right, but his powerful shot rose just over the crossbar.
Kamau had the first real chance of the second term when a beautiful flowing from the Reds saw the ball end up at his feet, but his effort from the right flew across the face of goal.
Borrello halved the deficit in the 63rd minute when he latched onto a diagonal pass into the box and lashed his shot into the top of the net.
Five minutes later the Roar were level, as Ingham burst through the defensive line and did well to fire his effort into the top corner while travelling at pace.
With 10 minutes remaining Clut was able to unlock Adelaide’s defence once more with a dinked pass to Borrello, but the striker snatched at his chance and sent it wide of the post.
Brisbane continued to press in the dying stages, and Ingham produced another moment of magic to put them ahead for the first time, slaloming past Adelaide defenders before cracking in a superb goal.
There was plenty of drama still to come, however, as the Reds were awarded a penalty with three minutes remaining thanks to a Sam Cronin handball in the box, and Costa stepped up and coolly converted to notch his hat-trick.
There would be one final twist, though as Ingham scored a brilliant third in injury time to secure a hat-trick of his own and a memorable Roar win.
Brisbane Roar 4 (Borrello 63, Ingham 68, 85, 90+3)
Adelaide United 3 (Costa 21, 27, 87pk)
Brisbane Roar: 20. Matt Acton (gk), 2. Jaiden Walker, 3. Jordon Lampard (15. Cameron Crestani 60), 4. Lachlan Jackson, 5. Sam Cronin , 6. Benjamin Liftin (c), 7. Shannon Brady(12. Mitchell Hore 60), 9. Samed Altundag (14. Jai Ingham 45), 10. Devante Clut, 11. Brandon Borrello, 16. Patrick Theodore
Adelaide United: 20. Paul Izzo (gk), 2. Dion Kirk, 3. Shaun Harvey (c), 6. Jack Bladen (17. Jordan O'Doherty 60), 7. Bruce Kamau, 8. Nathan Konstandopoulos (10. Christopher Skull 60), 9. Anthony Costa, 11. Nikola Mileusnic (12. Geoffrey Lino 60), 13. Jordan Elsey, 15. Matthew Bouzalas, 16. Jake Monaco
