Brisbane Roar’s 410-day wait for a home win in the Isuzu UTE A-League has come to an end after a 2-1 triumph over third-place Western United in a stunning upset at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.
Western came into the Round 27 opener intent on claiming the three points needed to jump up to second on the table but instead it was the Roar who made their move; the long-awaited home win helped Ruben Zadkovich’s side off the foot of the table and back above Perth Glory after the first of Brisbane’s three-consuctive home games.
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Roar legend Jack Hingert played from the start in his 300th Isuzu UTE A-League appearance and the Brisbane stalwart, who has spent 14 consecutive seasons at the club, contributed to the drought-breaking victory at Suncorp Stadium.
It was a win set up by early goals to Samuel Klein and Florin Berenguer, and sealed by a collective defensive effort in the second half to shut out the visitors after Hiroshi Ibusuki’s goal on the cusp of half-time.
“And the whistle goes – Brisbane Roar’s record wait for a win at home is over!” Exclaimed Network 10 commentator Teo Pellizzeri at the final whistle.
“Stop the clock at 12 games. Brisbane Roar have finally saluted in front of their home fans. Sweet relief, as they move off the foot of the table.
“They have detonated a bomb inside the top six, and it’s blown up under the feet of Western United!”
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How it happened
Brisbane took just two minutes to open the scoring at Suncorp Stadium as 21-year-old Klein bagged his third goal of the season, having arrived at the penalty spot to fire Jacob Brazete’s cutback cross into the back of the net.
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It should have been 2-0 just two minutes later when Berenguer’s unmarked effort from inside the box was tipped around the post by Western keeper Matthew Sutton but, after wasting the early opportunity, the Frenchman made no mistake when, midway through the first half, he pounced on a loose touch in the box by young Western defender Dylan Leonard to double the advantage.
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Up 2-0 after 23 minutes, last-placed Brisbane were suddenly in the box seat to notch a long-awaited home victory, and against a top-two aspirant no less – but Western halved the deficit just before the break as Hiroshi Ibusuki crept ever closer to the top of the Golden Boot leaderboard with his 10th goal of the campaign.
But despite the mini boost provided by Ibusuki’s 45th-minute finish, Western were unable to build on the comeback attempt as Brisbane held firm through a goalless second half to jump off the foot of the Isuzu UTE A-League table and end a 410-day wait for a win at home.
What it means
For Brisbane, sweet relief.
After 410 days and 13 prior attempts, the Roar have finally won a game at home, breaking a streak that stretched back to March 3, 2024 and a 3-2 win over Melbourne Victory.
Since then, Brisbane have lost 12 of 13 league fixtures. They’ve collected just one point from a possible 36 along that streak in a 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory on March 1, 2025.
Thursday night’s win over Western United was the first of three consecutive home games for Brisbane who, having broken their 410-day home winless run, could now target a late flourish of points to avoid finishing the season on the foot of the Isuzu UTE A-League table.
Brisbane moved back above Perth Glory into 12th on the table following Thursday’s home win.
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For Western, the shock road defeat was a bitter pill to swallow as John Aloisi’s side squandered the chance to move back into second spot on the Isuzu UTE A-League table.
Western began Round 27 just six points shy of league-leaders Auckland FC but, instead of closing the gap at the top of the table to just three points with a win over the league’s bottom-placed side, have left themselves vulnerable to being overtaken by the two sides directly beneath them.
Fourth-placed Western Sydney Wanderers and fifth-placed Melbourne Victory are just two points shy of Western United heading into Round 27.
Western United’s upset loss to Brisbane was the first of three results needed by Auckland to win the Premiers Plate this weekend.
Auckland must defeat Victory in the early kick-off on Saturday, then hope second-placed Melbourne City lose to the Wanderers; then, the Black Knights’ lead at the top of the table would extend to an unsurmountable seven points with two games to play, sealing the club’s first piece of silverware in their inaugural Isuzu UTE A-League campaign.
