Brisbane Roar relied on two first-time Hyundai A-League goal scorers to mount a 2-1 comeback win over Adelaide United at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
Brisbane looked set to slump to a home defeat when the in-form Ben Halloran put Adelaide ahead in the second half.
But goals to second-half substitute Mirza Muratovic and centre back Tom Aldred turned the tide in Brisbane’s favour, as the hosts secured a vital three points in a gutsy display on their home deck.
A heavy downpour of rain hit Suncorp Stadium early in the contest as both sides tried to settle into a relatively cagey opening half.
Brisbane should have gone ahead early when Dylan Wenzell-Halls gathered the ball in the box after a terrific turn from Brad Inman, but the Roar attacker bent his shot wide of the mark.
The Reds then went on to craft the bulk of the first half chances with Kristian Opseth and Michaël Maria both going close to opening accounts.
With the first 45 nearing its conclusion Macaulay Gillesphey fired an ambitious shot from distance which caught Paul Izzo off guard; the ball skimmed under his glove but deflected just wide of the mark to the relief of Adelaide’s custodian.
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Robbie Fowler demanded a lift from his Roar outfit at half time and that’s exactly what he got as the hosts flew out of the blocks in the second half, creating a number of chances and pressuring Adelaide’s goal.
But the Reds handled that pressure and hit the Roar on the counter to open the scoring through Halloran.
With a deflected Opseth shot floating back out to the edge of the box Halloran arrived to touch the ball down with his studs and drive a half-volley into the bottom left corner to put the Reds into the lead.
Facing a disappointing loss at home Fowler placed his faith in young striker Muratovic to come off the bench and get an equaliser and the 20-year-old didn’t disappoint the Roar boss when he scored in manic circumstances.
The Reds kept out close-range attempts from Scott McDonald and Muratovic making incredible blocks in the goal mouth but the Roar sustained the pressure in attack and eventually made the breakthrough when Muratovic struck a volley past a sea of Adelaide defenders and into the net.
Boosted by drawing level and with the home crowd spurring them on the Roar pushed on to grab a second and the lead through the unlikely source of Aldred.
The centre-half ventured forward from a set play to head a perfectly-weighted McDonald ball to the back post past Izzo and into Adelaide’s goal to hand the hosts a 2-1 lead.
After taking the lead Brisbane dug in to keep the valiant Adelaide at bay; Louis D’Arrigo went close to levelling the score with a volley inside the box but sliced it just wide, leaving Brisbane to weather the storm to the final whistle and claim all three points at Suncorp Stadium.
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Key Moments
Izzo’s fumble almost hands Roar the lead
Brisbane’s first-half struggles in front of goal continued against the Reds, but Izzo seemed willing to help them on their way to snapping that trend when he fluffed the chance to stop a long-range shot from Gillesphey.
Thankfully for the Reds the ball skimmed just wide of the mark.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6130730692001
Halloran thumps the Reds ahead
He scored a brace last weekend and Halloran continued his rich vein of goalscoring form when he struck a clean shot from distance past Young in Brisbane’s goal and into the bottom left corner.
With one touch off his right boot Halloran set up a half volley which he capitalised on to score a brilliant goal which put his side in the lead.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6130736885001
Muratovic finishes goal-mouth scramble with aplomb
Second-half substitute Muratovic scuffed a terrific chance to draw Brisbane level, but moments later he made amends to notch his first Hyundai A-League goal.
Muratovic and McDonald were both denied by some desperate Adelaide defending before the pressure eventually became too much for the Reds to handle.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6130734897001
Aldred completes the comeback
After Muratovic scored his first Hyundai A-League goal to draw Brisbane level, Aldred popped up at the back post to score his first Hyundai A-League goal to put them ahead.
A perfect cross from McDonald gave Aldred the opportunity to leap at the ball, rising above all defenders to put his header back across Izzo and across the line to put Brisbane 2-1 ahead.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6130734915001
Round 19
Western United FC v Brisbane Roar
Sunday, 16 February
Mars Stadium
Kick off: 4pm AEDT
Adelaide United v Central Coast Mariners
Friday, 14 February
Coopers Stadium
Kick off: 7pm local, 7.30pm AEDT