Hyundai A-League champions Brisbane Roar thumped Sydney FC 5-1 in a pre-season friendly in Mackay.
Hyundai A-League champions Brisbane Roar thumped Sydney FC 5-1 in a pre-season friendly in Mackay.
The Sky Blues were certainly undermanned, with Pascal Bosschaart, Adam Griffiths, Joel Chianese and Yairo Yau all missing, while Sydney boss Ian Crook also gave new keeper Vedran Janjetovic his first start.
Socceroo midfielder Brett Emerton started the match in yet another positive step following off season ankle surgery and he played 45 minutes.
Brisbane opened the scoring when Thomas Broich cut in from the right-hand side and found the back of the net with a thumping left-foot shot in the 25th minute.
Boom Sydney FC youngster Terry Antonis came close to levelling the scores but was denied by a brilliant save by Brisbane keeper Michael Theoklitos but the equaliser came just before half time when Mallia leapt high to head home in the 44th minute.
The teams went to the break level at 1-1 with Crook bringing Emerton and captain Terry McFlynn from the field to rotate his squad ahead of the season opener against Wellington on 6 October.
Brisbane nudged back in front in the 55th minute when Sydney defender Rhyan Grant scored an own goal, giving Brisbane the momentum and they took full advantage.
Erik Partaalu scored Brisbane-s third goal in the 74th minute when he was first to the rebound after Janjetovic saved a penalty before Ben O-Halloran scored a breakaway in the 79th minute.
Former Sydney FC defender Matt Jurman rounded out the scoring with a goal from a set piece in the 82nd minute.
