Italian marquee Massimo Maccarone has scored a classy second-half double in his first outing for Brisbane Roar in their pre-season friendly against Peninsular Power AJ Kelly Park on Saturday afternoon.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
*Roar prevailed 4-2 against their Brisbane Premier League opponents.
*Maccarone started off the bench but came on in the second half to score his brace,
*The win gives the Roar a huge confidence boost ahead of their blockbuster Westfield FFA Cup tie against Melbourne Victory on Wednesday night.
STORY OF THE GAME
- The home side took an early lead after a mistake from Tom Bilic in the Brisbane Roar goal.
- An inexperienced Roar line-up captained by Luke DeVere, continued to press hard for an equaliser and were rewarded in the 30th minute with trialist Peter Skapetis drawing Brisbane’s Hyundai A-League side level.
- In an action-packed first half, the Brisbane Premier League side re-took the lead through young winger Tom Strickland.
- An experienced Roar line-up dominated the second half creating numerous chances and were rewarded with goals from young striker Nick D’Agostino and marquee front man Massimo Maccarone.
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GOALS
Peninsula Power FC; Dean Briggs 2’; 1-0
A long-range shot finds it way past Tom Bilic at AJ Kelly Park, the home side Peninsula Power FC take an early lead through a Dean Briggs’ free kick.
Brisbane Roar FC; Peter Skapetis 30’; 1-1
Trialist Peter Skapetis drives into the 18-yard box and nets the equaliser after connecting with a loose pass that he smashes into the roof of the net, drawing the sides level.
Peninsula Power FC; Tom Strickland 38’; 2-1
The home side re-take the lead after Tom Strickland finds space down the right, cutting inside and firing home with a curling effort.
Brisbane Roar FC; Nicholas D’Agostino 69’; 2-2
Nick D’Agostino pulls the Roar level after he converts with a glancing header from a lofted cross from captain Matt McKay following good build up play down the left-hand side.
Brisbane Roar FC; Massimo Maccarone 75’; 2-3
The referee awards Brisbane a penalty after a handball in the box and marquee striker Massimo Maccarone makes no mistake as he confidently puts the ball into the bottom corner of the net to give Brisbane the lead for the first time during the match.
Brisbane Roar FC; Massimo Maccarone 88’; 2-4
Massimo Maccarone secures a second half brace in his debut in Orange as he surges into the box, rounding keeper Jake Reesby and finishing with a brilliant effort.
