Western United are on the winners list once again after their composed 2-0 victory over a wasteful Brisbane Roar outfit at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Two first half goals – including a strike from former Roar talisman Besart Berisha – settled the affair in United’s favour as the visitors frustrated the Roar from start to finish with a resolute defensive display.
Brisbane’s early season issues came to the fore once more as they dominated early proceedings but couldn’t find a first half goal.
United meanwhile had no such issues, taking the lead with just 11 minutes played through flying full back Connor Pain, who latched onto a sumptuous cross from United’s captain Alessandro Diamanti to tuck away the opening goal.
Brisbane took control of the game after falling behind and threatened to score multiple times with their biggest chance of the half falling to Stefan Mauk, whose shot on target was deflected just wide of the mark thanks to an intervention from Andrew Durante.
After absorbing the Brisbane pressure United made the hosts pay for their inaccuracy when Berisha capped off a brilliant team move with a goal against his former side late in the first half to put United two goals to the good.
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The second half began much like the first, with Brisbane huffing and puffing but failing to break down United’s defence.
But Brisbane weren’t prepared to give in as they continued to pile the pressure on the visitors as they created three chances in quick succession with 20 minutes to play, highlighted by a close range effort by Roy O’Donovan which Filip Kurto somehow kept out of the net with a smart reflex save.
Despite all their efforts to score in the second half Brisbane couldn’t find the breakthrough as the visitors took all three points for the second week in a row.
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Key moments
Pain puts United ahead early
The visitors took the lead just 11 minutes into the contest when Pain arrived at the back post to tuck a perfect cross from Diamanti into the back of the net.
Diamanti was given space to collect the ball and turn onto his favoured left side in midfield, where the Italian curled a penetrating early cross to the back post.
Pain saw the chance to get forward and bombed toward the back post, sliding in to connect with the cross and poke the ball through Jamie Young’s legs to score the opening goal of the game.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6115526595001
Durante denies Roar a much-needed goal
Brisbane haven’t scored a first half goal all season and if it weren’t for the timely intervention of Durante they might have broken their duck.
Mauk met a pass into the box from Neville, taking a first time shot which looked destined to curl into the bottom left corner.
But Durante stuck out his leg to make a crucial touch with his knee which deflected the ball just wide of the left-hand goal post and out for a corner.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6115529357001
Berisha caps off perfect team move on the cusp of half time
What Brisbane lacked in cutting edge United showed they possess in spades as Berisha finished off a well-worked team goal in first half stoppage time.
The move began with Jerry Skotadis who put two Roar attackers in a spin-cycle with one touch and burst into midfield.
His pass to Dario Jertec broke the lines, and the Croatian fed Diamanti out wide who played Aaron Calver into space down the line.
Sniffing his seventh goal against his former side, Berisha made a smart run into the box which Calver found with a low cross, and Berisha diverted the ball with a half-volley across the face of goal and into the net.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6115531647001
Amadi-Holloway can’t keep his half-volley down
Brisbane spent the majority of the second half parked on the edge of United’s box and they almost got reward for effort when Aaron Amadi-Holloway got on the end of Neville’s cross inside the six-yard box.
Amadi-Holloway tried to divert his shot on target but got under the ball, sending it drifting over the bar.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6115540791001
Kurto called into reflex block
With little to do for the majority of the game United goalkeeper Kurto sprang into life midway through the second half to make a sharp stop to deny O’Donovan from close range.
With Berisha sprawling to clear the ball from a Brisbane corner O’Donovan pounced to make an interception which flew off his body and toward goal, but Kurto managed to deflect the ball away with one glove.
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