A fast-finishing Brisbane Roar have boosted their Hyundai A-League Premiership hopes after a comeback 2-1 win against a 10-man Newcastle Jets at Suncorp on Sunday.
Roar went back to the top of the ladder, albeit before Melbourne City’s game in Perth, after the hard-earned win.
It was a low-key opening 45 minutes with neither side stamping their authority on the contest.
But the game ignited early in the second half with the Jets taking the lead via a penalty, before their skipper Nigel Boogaard was sent off as Roar equalised from the spot.
Brisbane then took the lead with Thomas Broich’s first goal of the season against the 10-man Jets as the home side powered home to seal a precious three points heading into the final round of the season.
GOALS
0-1 Leonardo (49’ pen) Newcastle Jets – The Brazilian smashed home the opener after Jade North was adjudged by referee Strebre Delovski to have handled in the box.
1-1 Henrique (66’ pen) Brisbane Roar – Boogaard was sent off for a second week in a row after he dragged down Henrique and the Brazilian picked himself up and coolly slotted home the go-ahead goal.
2-1 Broich (74’) Brisbane Roar – It was Broich of old as he profited from a sublime dummy from Henrique and he drilled it home into the bottom left corner for his first goal of the season. And didn’t he enjoy that!
KEY MOMENT
The Boogaard send off. It effectively ended Jets’ hopes of an upset win.
HIGHLIGHTS REEL
Broich’s overall display was superb. And his winner was another classy moment for the German.
OPTA DATA KEY STATS
- Leonardo’s penalty was the 400th goal scored this season. It’s just the third time and the fastest (129 games) the league has reached the milestone.
- Nigel Boogaard’s red card was the tenth of his career and it’s the third week in a row the Jets have been reduced to ten men.
- No team have won more points from losing positions than Brisbane Roar this season (17).
TREATMENT TABLE
Roar super-striker Jamie Maclaren was subbed off early in the second half with an ice pack subsequently applied to his ankle.
THE FINAL WORD
It didn’t matter how they got the three points. Sunday was about winning for Roar to keep pressure on their rivals ahead of next weekend’s final round.
They looked to be in second gear for most of the game before they ran all over the Jets in the final stages.
And Broich’s goal – his first of the season and the second of the day – was a timely boost for the team ahead of next week’s trip to Victory.
TEAMS
Brisbane Roar: Young (gk), Brown, Corona (85′), Maclaren (Oar 57’), North, Donachie, McKay (c), Hingert, Broich, Petratos, Borrello (Henrique 50’)
Subs: Theo (gk), Lustica, Henrique, Bowles, Oar
Newcastle Jets: Birighitti(gk), Mullen, Hoffman, Boogaard(c), Alivodic (Kantarovski 64’), Poljak (Brennan 64’), Santiago, Ugarkovic, Nordstrand (Jackson 71’), Cowburn, Pawiak
Subs: Kantarovski, Watson, Brennan, Kennedy (gk), Jackson
Yellow cards: Petratos (44′)
Red cards: Boogaard (65′)
Conditions: 26 degrees, clear
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Attendance: 14, 285
