A Besart Berisha brace has helped Brisbane Roar take a huge step towards securing a top two place by comfortably beating Perth Glory.
A Besart Berisha brace has helped Brisbane Roar take a huge step towards securing a top two place by comfortably beating Perth Glory 3-0 in Saturday’s Hyundai A-League match at nib Stadium.
Berisha scored twice within four minutes in the second half to wrap up the three points for the Roar after Henrique had given them the lead before the break in front of 10,367 fans.
Henrique was later given a straight red card for slapping Jacob Burns but second-placed Brisbane, who were impressive despite the absence of key playmaker Thomas Broich, held on against a lacklustre Perth to move five points clear of third-placed Wellington with just four games to play.
The defending champions’ fourth straight win also saw them move within three points of league leaders Central Coast, although the Mariners had a game in hand, while it all but ended the Glory’s top two ambitions.
Perth, who sit fourth after losing for just the second time from their past 11 matches, now trail the Roar by seven points but have a gap of four over seventh-placed Sydney.
The Glory came into the match without star duo Liam Miller and Shane Smeltz and their absence was noticeable throughout.
The Roar were allowed to dictate the tempo early and were controlling the match through midfield, which allowed them to take the lead just 21 minutes in.
A poor Burns pass in the wet conditions gifted Brisbane the ball in a dangerous position and, after a delightful through ball from Berisha, Henrique rounded the ‘keeper and put the ball into the empty net.
Perth lifted after going behind but struggled to create good chances, with several long-range off-target efforts as close as they came before the break.
The Glory also started strongly in the second half but couldn’t take advantage and the Roar made them pay when Henrique set up Berisha, who held off Bas van den Brink to score from close range.
And the result was put beyond doubt four minutes later when Nick Fitzgerald was played through and his cross allowed Berisha to tap in for his 17th goal of the season.
Henrique had been one of Brisbane’s best through the first hour but a moment of frustration saw him given his marching orders in the 65th minute.
The attacker responded to a seemingly accidental Burns elbow, which caught him on the jaw, by slapping Burns on the cheek and referee Strebre Delovski immediately sent him off.
The result continued Perth’s dreadful record against Brisbane, as the Glory have now won just three of their 21 meetings.
Perth Glory 0
Brisbane Roar 3 (Henrique ’21, Berisha ’59, ’63)
Crowd: 10,367 at nib Stadium
