Jamie Maclaren struck a scintillating second-half hat-trick to lead Brisbane Roar to an exhilarating 5-1 win over Central Coast Mariners on Sunday night.
Trailing 1-0 shortly after half-time, the hosts mounted an incredible late assault at Suncorp Stadium with all five goals arriving in a dominant final half hour.
Brisbane came closest in the opening 45 minutes but it was the Mariners who snatched a surprise second half lead through a fierce Fabio Ferreira rocket.
John Aloisi’s side snapped immediately into action and produced chance-after-chance until Maclaren equalised from close-range.
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The 23-year-old struck twice more in the next eight minutes before an in-form Thomas Broich and substitute Nick D’Agostino added to the damage.
Brisbane’s stunning comeback sees them move three points clear in third, while the Mariners remain rooted to the foot of the ladder.
GOALS
0-1 Mariners: Ferreira, 49’
Brisbane continued to back off as Ferreira broke through the middle and thumped a clean strike beyond the outstretched Jamie Young.
1-1 Roar: Maclaren, 62’
Brandon Borrello pulled a pass back from the byline and after Maclaren’s initial attempt was blocked by Ascroft, the striker kept his feet to fire the loose ball past Necevski.
2-1 Roar: Maclaren, 66’
Borrello again supplied the pass across goal and Liam Rose fluffed his clearance, gifting Maclaren a simple finish.
3-1 Roar: Maclaren, 70’
Played through a gaping hole by Joe Caletti, Maclaren produced his finest finish of the night with a deft left-footed touch past Necevski.
4-1 Roar: Broich, 83’
The German whiz shook off a defender, kept his composure and made the Mariners pay with a controlled finish inside the far post.
5-1 Roar: D’Agostino, 90’+1
Ignoring Broich’s overlapping run, the young substitute curled an absolute peach into the top corner.
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