Three goals from Adelaide United have handed Brisbane Roar their second successive pre-season defeat in front of a lively, orange-clad crowd at Clive Berghofer Stadium in Toowoomba.
An early deflection from Spase Dilevski-s free-kick broke the deadlock for the visitors before strikes from striker Bruce Djite and substitute Michele La Stella confirmed the result.
Despite the score line, Head Coach Ange Postecoglou found it hard to fault the character and performance of his squad.
“I was quite pleased actually, I thought we stuck to our game plan and the things we-ve been working on are coming together,” Postecoglou said.
“Obviously the pitch didn-t help us, it made it hard for the players but I was really happy with the fact they kept persisting, trying to play the way they want to play.
“What we are looking for is long-term results and I-m sure that will come.”
Both sides found it hard to find fluency in the match-s opening stages but United broke the deadlock on the ten minute mark after they were awarded a free-kick with the goal in clear sight.
Dilevski-s delivery took a wicked deflection off the head of Massimo Murdocca with the flight of the ball deceiving Brisbane ‘keeper Michael Theoklitos and sailing into the back of the net to hand Adelaide the early advantage.
Former Roar midfielder Dilevski continued to be among the thick of the action and after 23 minutes, was lucky to stay on the field after a professional foul on Luke Brattan on the outskirts of the penalty area.
He was awarded a yellow card for his efforts and Brisbane-s Thomas Broich could do little more than send the ball over the crossbar from the resulting free-kick.
The Hyundai A-League champions continued to press up the park and five minutes later could have had an equaliser after a first-touch cross from attacking right-back Ivan Franjic almost found striker James Meyer – the intervention of Adelaide defender Osama Malik proving vital in the Reds- attempts to keep the Roar scoreless.
With five minutes left to play in the first half, a Broich free-kick proved difficult to defend for United but despite rising highest from the pack, Erik Paartalu-s connection with the well-placed cross flew the wrong side of the woodwork.
The Reds- lead was doubled three minutes into the second stanza after former Gold Coast United striker Djite latched onto another set piece from Delovski and Brisbane conceded a third 20 minutes out from full-time after Adelaide substitute Michele La Stella calmly slotted past Theoklitos inside the area.
In light of the possession they held, the Roar were unlucky not to make the scoresheet.
A 25 yard screamer from Paartalu and a shot dragged just wide of the upright from Meyer were the closest they got to finding the back of the net.
Post-match, Postecoglou highlighted the contributions of his new foreign players with newcomers Issey Nakajima-Farran and Mohammed Adnan particularly impressive.
“Probably the only negative out of the game was that we copped a couple of soft goals but I guess that-s something we need to work on,” Postecoglou said.
“Having said that, I thought big Mohammed did really well today in his first game and Issey was lively and so was Besart when he came on.
“Sitting here after 3-0, I-m actually feeling quite positive about it so it was a funny game of football.”
Brisbane Roar-s next and final pre-season fixture for 2011 is next Saturday, 24 September against Brisbane Premier League club University of Queensland at St Lucia. Kick-off is at 3pm and entry is free.
Brisbane Roar 0
Adelaide United 3 (Massimo MURDOCCA (og) 10-, Bruce DJITE 48-, Michele LASTELLA 69-)
Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba
Saturday, 17 September 2011
Referee: Adam Kersey
Brisbane Roar line-up: 1. Michael THEOKLITOS, 2. Matthew SMITH, 3. Shane STEFANUTTO, 5. Ivan FRANJIC, 6. Erik PAARTALU, 8. Massimo MURDOCCA, 11. Issey NAKAJIMA-FARRAN, 16. Mohammed ADNAN, 18. Luke BRATTAN (14. Rocky VISCONTE 75-), 21. James MEYER (7. Besart BERISHA 75-), 22. Thomas BROICH
Substitutes not used: George LAMBADARDIS, Tommy CIRJAK, Nicholas FITZGERALD, Corey BROWN, Chris BUSH, Matt ACTON (gk)
Yellow Cards: Shane STEFANUTTO 64-
Red Cards: None
Adelaide United line-up: 1. Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2. Osama MALIK, 6.CASSIO, 7. Zenon CARAVELLA (15. Michael MARKHAM 84-), 8. Evgeniy LEVCHENKO (4. Antony GOLEC 46-), 9. Sergio VAN DIJK, 11. Bruce DJITE (10. Evan KOSTOPOULOS 80-), 14. Cameron WATSON, 16. Spase DILEVSKI (5. Michele LASTELLA 67-), 17. Iain RAMSAY, 21. Francisco USUCAR (18. John MAVROMATIS 88-)
Substitutes not used: Duncan SHORT (gk)
Yellow cards: Spase DILEVSKI 23-, Evgeniy LEVCHENKO 43-
Red cards: None
