Denis Genreau scored his first A-League goal and Matt Derbyshire pounced late as Macarthur brought Brisbane Roar back down to earth on their first interstate trip, beating the in-form Queensland team 2-0 in Redcliffe.
Genreau hooked an expert volley over Jamie Young after the former Melbourne City youngster was picked out by second-half substitute Jake Hollman, before Matt Derbyshire executed a chip over the stranded Young as Roar pushed upfield late in search of an equaliser.
Ante Milicic’s side dug deep to earn their first three points outside of New South Wales, with Dylan Wenzel-Halls hitting the foot of the post midway through the second, while the visiting Bulls saw their attacking assets stifled for large periods of the game.
But Genreau – who had earlier spurned a great chance to open the lead minutes into the second half – popped up with goal that gave the A-League new boys a lead to defend before Derbyshire sealed the deal with a wonderful lob.
Brisbane were looking to equal a club-record five wins consecutive for the first since April 2012 pre-match and although Warren Moon’s side launched a late assault on Adam Federici’s goal they were kept scoreless for the first time since their opening day defeat to Melbourne City on December 29.
Brisbane remain in second position, while Macarthur climb one point behind the Queenslanders into third place.
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Key moments
Macarthur dominated the ball in the early offerings of the club’s first-ever interstate A-League match, with both sides opting to keep their powder dry.
Brisbane received two half-chances with Wenzel-Halls and Danzaki drawing saves from Federici with headed chances, while Macaulay Gillesphey’s cross-cum-shot flashed dangerously across goal.
At the other end, Roar goalkeeper Jamie Young was a first-half pedestrian but pulled off a fantastic reflex save to repel Antonis Martis’ first-time hit in first half stoppage time, while Roar also had to clear Mark Milligan’s header off the corner in the final moment of the first half arm-wrestle.
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But the contest opened up immediately in the second, and Macarthur created the biggest chance of the game.
Milligan found Genreau with a searching diagonal and the youngster controlled it beautifully with his chest but miscued his finish when opting to go to the near post.
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Brisbane created their best chance of the game when O’Shea launched a long ball forward to exploit a gap behind the Macarthur defence. Wenzel-Halls raced onto it and hit it first time with Federici stranded but his finish hit the right post.
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But it was Macarthur who broke the deadlock. Jake Hollman twisted and turned around Jack Hinger and clipped a superb cross into the middle toward Genreau who hooked an excellent first-time finish past Young.
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