The Melbourne Heart grabbed a late winner to beat Brisbane Roar 2-1 at Goodwin Park on Saturday in a Foxtel National Youth League game played at a high tempo but dominated by strong defending from both sides.
The Melbourne Heart grabbed a late winner to beat Brisbane Roar 2-1 at Goodwin Park on Saturday in a Foxtel National Youth League game played at a high tempo but dominated by strong defending from both sides.
Benjamin Garuccio was the hero for the Heart, as he nodded in a header deep into injury time to break Roar hearts.
A goal from Roar old boy Ross Archibald after 54 minutes had put Heart ahead, but Brisbane came back strongly to equalise through Devante Clut in the 73rd minute.
Clut’s creative play allowed Brisbane to dominate proceedings in the second term, but the home side would come to rue a series of missed chances.
Neither goal was breached in a tight first 45 minutes, though Melbourne looked the side more likely to find the breakthrough.
Hernan Espindola popped a volley well over the crossbar for the visitors after six minutes when a cross from the left found him unmarked at the back post.
Heart had another opportunity when Garuccio found himself one-on-one with the keeper, but his low shot rolled across the face of the goal and out for a goal kick.
A strong run from Patrick Theodore of the Roar ended with a weak shot straight at Heart custodian Marko Stevanja, in what was the last threat on goal from either side before the half-time whistle.
The home side were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Heart box five minutes into the second half, but Davies was unable to get his attempt on goal to dip and it soared well over.
Nick Kalmar’s free kick for the Heart from further out was much more effective, slamming against the crossbar and allowing Archibald to swoop on the rebound to finish past Chalmers.
The Roar nearly hit back straight away when Clut danced through the Heart defence before feeding Jai Ingham, but the striker’s powerful shot was parried brilliantly by Stevanja.
Clut was then guilty of firing wide from close range as the Roar poured forward in search of an equaliser.
Clut was denied by another sensational save from Stevanja before finally finding a way past him with a low, powerful shot from 25 metres out which found the bottom left corner of the net.
With 10 minutes to go Ingham was put through on goal thanks to a delightful Clut through ball but his shot dribbled just wide of the post.
The number nine had time for one more gilt-edged chance, but his header from inside the box floated over the bar deep into injury time.
Garuccio scrambled in his goal from a corner with one of the last plays of the game to earn the visitors three precious points.
Brisbane Roar 1 (Clut 73)
Melbourne Heart 2 (Archibald 54, Garuccio 90+4)
Brisbane Roar: 1. Fraser Chalmers (GK), 2. Jaiden Walker, 3. Jordon Lampard (15. Costa Psaros 60) , 4. Lachlan Jackson, 5. Sam Cronin, 6. Benjamin Liftin (C), 7. Shannon Brady (14. Luke Pavlou 60), 8. Patrick Theodore, 9. Jai Ingham, 10. Devante Clut, 11. Julius Davies (12. Mitchell Hore 57)
Melbourne Heart: 1. Marko Stevanja (GK), 3. Philip Petreski, (2. Tyler James 60) 4. Andrew Mullet, 5. Ross Archibald (C) (12. Matthew Millar 66), 6. Alexander Dao, 7. Hernan Espindola, 8. Sam Mitchinson,10. Marcus Schroen, 11. Nick Kalmar (15. Baki Efe 60) 13. Benjamin Garuccio, 14. Ersin Kaya
