Brisbane Roar take a look back at the club’s season in a three part review finishing with the final nine rounds of the 2009/10 season.
The Roar maintained a late top six charge with victories over North Queensland Fury, Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC, but a three game losing streak and a 2-0 result against Adelaide United snatched the finals from the Roar-s grip.
Round 19: Brisbane Roar 2 (van Dijk 20-, 42-) North Queensland Fury 0 at Suncorp Stadium.
The Roar picked up a priceless three points as a Sergio van Dijk brace secured a 2-0 victory over the North Queensland Fury. Van Dijk opened the account after finishing a move started in the Roar half by centre-back Luke DeVere. The Dutchman was a constant threat to the Fury defence and duly scored his second goal just before the half-time break. The Roar continued their dominance in the second half, but despite creating a number of good chances, could not add further goals to an impressive performance.
Round 20: Central Coast Mariners 2 (Travis 35-, MacAllister 76-) Brisbane Roar 3 (Oar 10-, van Dijk 21-, McKay 90-+1) at Bluetongue Stadium.
The Roar completed back-to-back victories after a late Matt McKay winner secured a 3-2 victory over the Central Coast Mariners. Having never lost to the Mariners at Bluetongue Stadium, the Roar opened the scoring through Tommy Oar-s spectacular right foot shot. The Mariners looked to hit back quickly but found themselves further behind when van Dijk curled home the Roar-s second. However, the home side staged a remarkable fight-back, Nicky Travis capitalising on a defensive lapse, before second-half substitute Dylan MacAllister nodded home the equaliser. Stung by the turnaround, the Roar pushed forward and stole the points with McKay volleying home a very late winner.
Round 21: Gold Coast United 5 (Rees 45+1-, 53-, Smeltz 50-, 62-, 77-) Brisbane Roar 1 (McKay 7-) at Skilled Stadium.
The Roar-s top six hopes took a blow after being handed a 5-1 defeat by Gold Coast United. Buoyed by two victories in three games, the Roar took a deserved lead through an early McKay strike. The Roar controlled much of the first 45 minutes, but United found a foothold late in the half when Kristian Rees converted a Jason Culina free-kick. However, the second-half belonged to the home side as United piled on four unanswered goals. Hat-trick hero Shane Smeltz scored his first from the penalty before adding a header and a close range finish, while Rees- grabbed his second from a Culina corner. The Roar never gave up the fight, but returned home having lost all three matches to their Queensland rival.
Round 22: Wellington Phoenix 3 (Brown 26-, Dadi 55-, 62-) Brisbane Roar 1 (van Dijk 88-) at Westpac Stadium.
The Roar continued its struggle on the road after succumbing to a 3-1 defeat away to the Wellington Phoenix. Looking to make amends for the defeat against Gold Coast, the Roar started strongly with both van Dijk and Reinaldo thwarted by former Roar custodian Liam Reddy. But the Phoenix took the lead when Tim Brown scored against the run of play. The Roar searched for the equaliser in the second half, but Eugene Dadi stretched the home side-s advantage with spectacular bicycle kick. And the Ivory Coast marksman put the game out of the Roar-s reach with a clinical second. Van Dijk scored late in the match, but it was nothing more than a consolation for the battling Roar.
Round 23: Brisbane Roar 0 Newcastle Jets 2 (Thompson 50-, Bridges 55- (pen)) at Suncorp Stadium.
The Roar faltered to their third straight defeat after losing 2-0 to the Newcastle Jets. The Roar gave Belgian Pieter Collen a starting berth, but it was another import who stole the points. The Roar started the game well and fashioned a number of shooting chances that just missed the target. But the start of the second-half was unkind to the Roar, with the visitors sealing victory in a five minute spell. Jets captain Matt Thompson buried the opener in the 50th minute, before Englishman Michael Bridges secured the three points with a well placed penalty. The Roar continued to pour forward, but couldn-t find a way past Jets goalkeeper Ben Kennedy.
Round 24: North Queensland Fury 1 (Williams 55-) Brisbane Roar 1 (DeVere 48-) at Dairy Farmers Stadium.
The Roar snapped a three game losing streak courtesy of a 1-1 away to the North Queensland Fury. The Roar started the match with intent, but desperate defending and quality ‘keeping kept the away side at bay. Fury-s David Williams kept the Roar defence on its toes, but the sides finished the half locked at 0-0. The start of the second half saw goals at both ends with Luke DeVere opening the scoring before Williams replied for the Fury. The Roar laid siege to the Fury goal in search of a winner, but Fury ‘keeper Justin Pasfield ensured the sides would share the spoils.
Round 25: Brisbane Roar 1 (van Dijk 88-) Sydney FC 0 at Suncorp Stadium.
Brisbane Roar kept their top six hopes alive after securing a late 1-0 victory over old rivals Sydney FC. Despite not winning at Suncorp Stadium since the 2007/08 season, the visitors dominated the early exchanges. However, Roar ‘keeper Matt Ham was an impassable one man mountain, stifling every shot Sydney could muster. The Roar slowly built inroads into the game, threatening to take the lead on more than one occasion. The second half was an end-to-end affair with both goalkeepers performing heroic saves. But with only two minutes to spare, a corner fell kindly to DeVere and the defender-s shot deflected off van Dijk-s hip and past the prone Clint Bolton.
Round 26: Adelaide United 2 (Barbiero 7-, Pantelis 51-) Brisbane Roar 0 at Hindmarsh Stadium.
The Roar-s late push for a finals spot came to a crashing halt after losing 2-0 to Adelaide United. Once again the Roar started the game brightly only to fall victim to a painful sucker punch – Roar nemesis Fabian Barbiero opening the scoring after finishing a quick move for United. The Roar were finding it hard to compete with United, scrambling defence the only resistance against United-s attacks. Roar young guns Oar and Ivan Franjic tried to inspire the visitors, but Lucas Pantelis consigned the Roar to a season without finals football with a curling shot into the corner.
Round 27: Perth Glory 2 (Neville 9-, Bulloch 73-) Brisbane Roar 0 at ME Bank Stadium.
The Roar finished the season with a 2-0 defeat to the finals-bound Perth Glory. The home side opened the game in fine style and took an early lead when Scott Neville pounced on a Todd Howarth cross. The Roar tried to build pressure on the Glory-s defence but could only rack up a series of misdirected corners and free-kicks. The Roar dominated possession in the second-half, but like the first 45 minutes, found the Glory defence a tough nut to crack. And the contest was all but over when Scott Bulloch fortuitously added a second to the Glory-s account.
For a look at all the action, check out the Season Review – Part Three gallery.
