Brisbane Roar taught the AIS a salutary lesson in Week 14 of the Hyundai National Youth League running riot in Canberra with Issey Nakajima-Farran, Anthony Proia and Matthew Thurtell all scoring hat-tricks as the visitors romped to an 11-2 victory against a very young home team in a goal-fest in the Nations Capital.
Brisbane Roar taught the AIS a salutary lesson in Week 14 of the Hyundai National Youth League running riot in Canberra with Issey Nakajima-Farran, Anthony Proia and Matthew Thurtell all scoring hat-tricks as the visitors romped to an 11-2 victory against a very young home team in a goal-fest in the Nations Capital.
The Roar, sitting fourth in the table ahead of kick off, included a couple of faces familiar to fans of the Hyundai A-League in their line-up with attacking duo Kofi Danning and Nakajima-Farran adding some extra bite to the visitors front third.
And it was Brisbane that settled much the quicker with their fast, intricate, one-touch play allowing them to dominate possession in the opening 10 minutes.
It was no surprise then when Brisbane opened the scoring in the 14th minute with Nakajima-Farran to the forefront.
The Canadian international danced his way along the bye-line before cutting the ball back to strike partner Proia.
The former AIS graduate still had much to do but his control and spin created space and the finish was unerring, zipping past Jordan Thurtell in the Institute goal.
Not content with creating a goal Nakajima-Farran got on the score sheet himself barely 90 seconds later.
This one was all his own work as, after picking the ball up close to the touchline, he sped infield, cut in towards goal and unleashed a ferocious strike that was still rising as it ripped into the top corner of the net to give the Roar a comfortable two-goal cushion.
Despite some sporadic breakaways, led by the tricky Steve Kuzmanovski, the play was all towards the AIS goal with the power and pace of the Roar attack too much for the home team to handle and Brisbane took full advantage extending their lead in the 24th minute.
What they didn’t need was a helping hand, but that is what they received when Joshua Barresi was adjudged to have bundled over Proia in the area.
Danning did the honours from the spot, confidently sending Thurtell the wrong way.
Just as it appeared that the AIS would be blown away by the Brisbane surge they responded in fine style.
Michael Taurasi was the architect skipping past the challenge of Roar left back Corey Brown and squaring the ball to John Karatzas.
Karatzas composed himself, sold a dummy, and drove a firm effort beyond the reach of Matthew Acton to the delight of the home support and the AIS management.
The goal though did little to stem the tide and minutes later Brisbane reinstated their three goal buffer in embarrassingly easy fashion.
Nakajima-Farran was involved again down the left flank causing problems with his pace and trickery and, when his cut back was struck towards goal, it fell kindly for Proia who couldn’t miss from six yards, sliding the ball past the exposed Thurtell.
Amazingly the prolific striker then completed his hat-trick before the interval, racing clear of a flat AIS defence, after the home team coughed up the ball in midfield, to side-foot past the advancing goalkeeper and round out a dominant first-half display.
The half-time break, and the removal of hat-trick hero Proia replaced by Matthew Thurtell, did little to change the pattern of the game and the Roar took just four minutes to add to their tally.
Danning’s run down the wing and low cross eluded everyone in the middle with the ball sneaking through to the unmarked Nakajima-Ferran who slotted into the net from close range.
Barely two minutes later it was 7-1 as Brisbane’s slick approach work culminated in Thurtell hitting a first time shot into the back of the net via a slight deflection as the floodgates well and truly opened.
The livewire Nakajima-Farran was next to get on the act prodding a shot past Thurtell that trickled into the net off the base of the right-hand upright to increase the scoreboard in the 54th minute as the Institute wilted in the afternoon sunshine.
To their credit the home team kept plugging away and skipper Stefan Mauk was unfortunate to see a curling effort beat the keeper but get headed off the line.
Mauk got his reward though shortly afterwards when he was quickest to react to a fizzing shot from Taurasi that crashed off the post, with the AIS captain controlling the rebound and hammering a right-foot effort high into the roof of the net.
Chris Bush wasted a glorious chance to add another when he blazed wide with the goal at his mercy but the respite was short-lived as Thurtell added the ninth, rifling in at the third attempt, after substitute goalkeeper Lucas Spinella denied him with a smart double-save but was left helpless as the ball ricocheted back to the replacement centre-forward who made no mistake at the third time of asking with 10 minutes remaining.
A tenth was inevitable and the goal that brought up the double figures came from a quick free-kick with Jason Geria getting in front of his marker to sweep home at the near post.
In stoppage time Thurtell completed his treble to cap an amazing afternoon for the Roar and a miserable day for the AIS.
AIS 2 (John Karatzas 29′, Stefan Mauk 73′)
Brisbane Roar 11 (Anthony Proia 14′, 33′, 42′, Issey Nakajima-Farran 16′, 49′, 54′, Kofi Danning 24′ (pen), Matthew Thurtell 51′, 80′, 92′, Jason Geria 85′)
