An extraordinary wonder strike from Danny Tiatto has given Queensland Roar hope of taking second spot on the Hyundai A-League table after they claimed a thrilling 4-2 win over Perth Glory in a pulsating encounter at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
In an intriguing match which featured many highlights and saw momentum shift regularly, Tiatto wound the clock back in the 63rd minute with an amazing shot from 25 metres out that sizzled past Glory keeper Tando Velaphi, curling into the top left corner of the net.
Tiatto’s first ever goal in the Hyundai A-League saw the Roar claim a 2-1 lead and sent the crowd of 17,367 into hysterics, but they were soon silenced three minutes later when Anthony Skorich headed in the equaliser after a free kick resultant from a Tiatto tackle that the 35-year old saw yellow for.
The Roar continued to fight desperately and in-form Dutch striker Sergio van Dijk put them back in front ten minutes later when he tapped in his 11th goal for the season.
The hosts needed the full three points to stay in contention for a top-two finish and Josh McCloughan nodded home a great corner from Matt McKay to ensure his side would keep Adelaide United under pressure.
The Roar now sits second on the table with 36 points, meaning the Reds must win against Central Coast on Sunday to guarantee a double-chance in the finals.
Roar coach Frank Farina was impressed with his side’s performance, particularly Tiatto’s efforts.
“He played really well, I don’t think he’s going to score a more important goal than that for the club, it was very timely and good to see,” he said.
“It was a really good result, it was what we needed to be honest to have any chance of finishing in the top two.”
“The manner in which we played I thought was good because we created a number of chances and general play I thought we looked good, gathered momentum going into the finals.”
Glory coach Dave Mitchell was proud of the endeavour his side displayed.
“Today they (the Roar) had a bit of power and pace,” Mitchell said.
“It was important we stood up tonight and did it for the league and our own credibility, which we did and I was very pleased with that.”
Queensland started the livelier of the two sides with van Dijk and Mitch Nichols having handy half-chances to open the scoring.
But it was Nikita Rukavytsya, in his return match after a trial with Dutch club FC Twente, who stunned the boisterous home crowd with a tremendous strike in the 21st minute.
Set up excellently by Scott Bulloch, Rukavytsya coolly collected the ball, tiptoed around four Roar defenders before sending the ball whizzing into the back of the net to give the visitors the early ascendancy.
Rukavytsya almost doubled the Glory’s lead five minutes later, but any thoughts the visitors had of taking control of the match where snubbed out soon after when Nichols tapped in a well earned team goal to level the scores.
A sprightly Tiatto set the gears in motion when he whipped in a good cross after a swift run down the sidelines, Velaphi was able to block van Dijk’s header only for Nichols to pounce on the spillage.
The Roar dominated possession for the rest of the first half, with midfield dynamo Massimo Murdocca particularly explosive as the Roar surged forward on countless occasions, only for Perth to have the best chance to take the lead.
That came in the 35th minute when Griffin McMaster picked up the ball after a tackle from Tiatto, with referee Peter O’Leary ruling a back pass, but Naum Sekulovski pushed the free kick wide.
The match, already being played at a high intensity, lifted in an exiting second stanza, with a number of chances coming for both sides before Tiatto set the match alight.
Queensland Roar 4 (Nichols 27, Tiatto 63, van Dijk 76, McCloughan 82)
Perth Glory 2 (Rukavytsya 21, Skorich 66)
@ Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. Crowd: 17,367
