Brisbane Roar’s frustrating season might well have taken a different course if not for four minutes of madness against Adelaide United in October.
Leading 1-0 until the 88th minute, the hosts coughed up two last-gasp goals as they slumped to a second successive defeat to start the campaign.
A reversal of the 2-1 result might have had Roar occupying the Reds’ cushy top-six position by now, but instead they’ve managed only two home wins ahead of Saturday night’s rematch at Suncorp Stadium.
Three points were within their grasp back in Round 2.
Massimo Maccarone had opened his Hyundai A-League account in the ninth minute, forcing home Corey Brown’s deep cross.
Peter Skapetis, Nick D’Agostino and Brett Holman all had good chances to extend the margin, only to be denied each time by Paul Izzo.
Adelaide grew in confidence after the reprieves and went close through George Blackwood and Michael Marrone.
Ryan Kitto eventually rifled in a deserved equaliser with fewer than three minutes of normal time remaining, setting the stage for Johan Absalonsen.
The Danish winger found space to thump a stunning winner in off the underside of the bar in the second minute of stoppage time, securing a dramatic first league win for Marco Kurz.
Re-live this recent classic in the video above!
