Brisbane have ended their disappointing A-League Men’s campaign on a high with a 3-1 triumph over Sydney FC at Moreton Daily Stadium.
Goals from Alex Parsons, Juan Lescano and former Sydney player Luke Ivanovic secured the victory for the Roar on Tuesday after Max Burgess had opened the scoring for the visitors.
REACTION: Wilkinson – Why Sydney’s Roar loss ‘sums up our whole season’
The win ends a six-game winless run for the second-last Roar and is also Brisbane’s first win in nine games over Sydney FC.
Defeat meanwhile creates unwanted history for the Sky Blues, who end the regular season outside finals for the first time in six years and having lost a club record six-straight matches on the back of their underwhelming Asian Champions League campaign.
In wet and windy conditions at Redcliffe, it was Sydney who took the lead in the 30th minute when Burgess was left unmarked inside the box to head home Anthony Caceres’ cross from the left.
That goal sparked the hosts into life, however, with Parsons heading home himself from an Eli Adams cross in the 36th minute to almost immediately equalise.
Argentine forward Lescano then put the hosts in front with his sixth-goal of the campaign in the 40th minute.
Lescano spun past Ben Warland and combined with Jay O’Shea before charging into the area and firing home to ensure the Roar held a 2-1 lead at the break.
The goal also made Lescano the Roar’s top scorer for the season.
Sydney coach Steve Corica turned to his bench at halftime, making a triple change at the break with Adam le Fondre, Trent Buhagiar and Liam McGing all coming on in place of Warland, Patrick Wood and Elvis Kamsoba.
Despite the changes it was Brisbane substitute Ivanovic who extended the lead in the 67th minute, combining with Nikola Mileusnic before sidefooting past Tom Heward-Belle to stick the knife into his former team.
Sydney pushed for a way back into the game but Roar goalkeeper Jordan Holmes stood tall on a couple of occasions to ensure it was Brisbane who ended the season on a winning note.
RECAP: BRISBANE ROAR 3-1 SYDNEY FC
By Matt Comito for KEEPUP
67′: GOAL! Ivanovic (3-1)
Luke Ivanovic gets a goal against his former club!
That’s his fourth of the season in orange, after departing the Sky Blues for Queensland in the off-season.
60′: SAVE! Holmes (2-1)
Jordan Holmes denies Trent Buhagiar from point-blank range with a phenomenal stop!
54′: CHANCE! Le Fondre (2-1)
Adam Le Fondre strikes a bouncing ball on the turn straight into the waiting arms of Roar keeper Jordan Holmes.
46′: SECOND HALF (2-1)
The Roar and Sky Blues emerge from the sheds for the second half.
40′: GOAL! Lescano (2-1)
After trailing 1-0, Brisbane now lead 2-1 thanks to Juan Lescano!
36′: GOAL! Parsons (1-1)
The hosts are back in it! Parsons levels the scores with a finish off the assist from Eli Adams as Brisbane get the quick reply.
31′: GOAL! Burgess (0-1)
The visitors take the lead through Max Burgess!
The Sydney forward arrived in the box to meet a floated cross off the left wing from Anthony Caceres to head the ball into the back of the net, carving out a one-goal advantage for the Sky Blues.
25′: CHANCE! Parsons (0-0)
Alex Parsons receives the chance to trouble Heward-Belle from a close-range free-kick, but fires over the bar.
11′: CHANCE! Brisbane (0-0)
Thomas Heward-Belle is off his line quickly to smother the ball at the feet of Roar forward Juan Lescano.
1′: KICK-OFF (0-0)
We’re underway at Moreton Daily Stadium.
