A sublime team performance from Brisbane Roar has seen Mike Mulvey’s side extend their lead on top of the Hyundai A-League ladder to seven points with a 3-0 win over third-placed Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park tonight.
A sublime team performance from Brisbane Roar has seen Mike Mulvey-s side extend their lead on top of the Hyundai A-League ladder to seven points with a 3-0 win over third-placed Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park tonight.
Liam Miller-s maiden Roar goal and Matt McKay-s first since his return from overseas built the foundations for the important result with last week-s hat-trick hero Dimitri Petratos capping off the impressive win with a well-taken strike from the edge of the area.
Brisbane broke the deadlock in the 28th minute after some superb build up play which included 20 patient passes across the park, Diogo Ferreira eventually playing the ball into the penalty box from the left wing.
Petratos left it and the ball ended up at the feet of Thomas Broich, who teed it up for the onrushing Miller and the Irishman gave the away side the lead with a calm finish.
The away side started the second half strongly and Henrique almost made it 2-0 just after the restart as he evaded the offside trap on the counter attack but Victory ‘keeper Nathan Coe produced a diving save to keep his side in the match.
Another well-crafted team goal put Brisbane 2-0 up in the 56th minute, Matt McKay applying the finishing touch with a chip over the Melbourne custodian after combining with Miller and Henrique around the edge of penalty area.
Petratos put his side out of reach with twenty minutes left to play, cutting inside the opposition defenders on the edge of the penalty area to confirm the 3-0 score line – the club-s first win over the Victory in Melbourne since September 2008.
After two away matches, Brisbane now return home to host Adelaide United next Saturday, 11 January at Suncorp Stadium.
Melbourne Victory 0
Brisbane Roar 3 (Liam MILLER 28-, Matt McKAY 56-, Dimitri PETRATOS 68-)
Saturday, 4 January 2014
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: 7.45pm local time / 6.45pm Brisbane time
Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones
Melbourne Victory: 1. Nathan COE (gk), 3. Adama TRAORE, 4. Nick ANSELL, 5. Mark MILLIGAN, 6. Leigh BROXHAM, 7. Gui FINKLER (27. Christopher CRISTALDO 64-), 9. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 14. James TROISI, 15. Mitch NICHOLS (17. Jimmy JEGGO 46-), 23. Adrian LEIJER, 25. Jason GERIA (24. Scott GALLOWAY)
Substitutes not used: 16. Rashid MAHAZI, 20. Lawrence THOMAS (gk).
Yellow cards: Adrian LEIJER 53-, 68-
Red cards: Adrian LEIJER 68-
Brisbane Roar: 1. Michael THEO (gk), 2. Matthew SMITH (c), 5. Ivan FRANJIC, 10. HENRIQUE (28. Brandon BORRELLO 77-), 11. Liam MILLER, 13. Jade NORTH (26. Corey BROWN 84-), 14. Diogo FERREIRA (19. Jack HINGERT 84-), 17. Matthew McKAY, 18. Luke BRATTAN, 22. Thomas BROICH, 23. Dimitri PETRATOS
Substitutes not used: 20. Matthew ACTON (gk) , 27. Devante CLUT
Yellow cards: Luke BRATTAN 31-, Matt SMITH 54-, Thomas BROICH 63-
Red cards: Nil
