Steven Lustica netted a hat-trick as Brisbane Roar powered to an 8-0 win over the PS4 NPL QLD Under-23 All-Stars on Saturday night.
The midfielder netted his three goals inside the first 39 minutes as the Roar raced to a 5-0 half-time lead over the select side from the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Queensland.
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Roat boss John Aloisi was pleased with his side’s sharp start after a disappointing scoreless draw with Newcastle Jets FC last weekend.
“What we lacked last week was penetrating against Newcastle. Our forward runs (today) caused problems – I was quite happy with that today. That was the main thing we wanted to see,” Aloisi said.
Aloisi hailed the contribution of three-goal hero Lustica and believes his side’s attacking combinations will flourish as the season progresses.
“His combinations were good,” Aloisi said.
“When Matt McKay, Thomas (Broich), Stevie (Lustica) and Jean Carlos (Solorzano) link up, it’s actually dangerous.
“They are so close together, the little one-twos and the third-man runs are hard to track and that worked really well in the first half.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t see enough of that in the second.”
The Roar next face Central Coast Mariners in a friendly on Saturday night at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
Brisbane Roar FC 8 (Solorzano 5′, Lustica 6′ pen, 14′, 39′, Borrello 21′, Polenz 61′, Petratos 76′ Hingert 79′)
PS4 NPL QLD U23 All-Stars 0
Brisbane Roar FC : 1.Michael THEO, 5.Corey BROWN (19.Jack HINGERT 73’), 6.Jerome POLENZ, 8.Steven LUSTICA (26.Nick D’AGOSTINO 80’), 11.Jean Carlos SOLORZANO, 13.Jade NORTH (15.James DONACHIE 46’), 14.Daniel BOWLES, 17.Matt McKAY (c) (16.Devante CLUT 46’), 22.Thomas BROICH (23.Dimitri PETRATOS 46’), 28.Brandon BORRELLO (20.Shannon BRADY 68’), 32. George LAMBADARIDIS (trialist).
Substitutes not used: 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 27.Mitchell HORE.
