Brisbane Roar has recorded arguably the most impressive result of their pre-season tour to-date, running out 5-0 winners over Queensland State League grand finalists Brisbane Strikers.
After resting the majority of his first-team players in the team-s last outing at Brisbane City last week, Head Coach Ange Postecoglou named a strong starting eleven to face the Strikers with only the injured Rocky Visconte, Henrique and Matt McKay left out of the match day squad.
It didn-t take long for the Hyundai A-League side to stamp their authority on the match with striker James Meyer-s clinical finish in the fourth minute handing the Roar the early advantage.
The 25-year-old was proving to be a nuisance at the pointy end of Brisbane-s attack and his second goal six minutes later gave the Strikers a small mountain to climb just ten minutes into the pre-season fixture.
He was unlucky not to complete his hat-trick on the 28 minute mark as a failed clearance from a Mitch Nichols shot found its way to the feet of Meyer who sent a rasping shot thundering off the cross-bar.
While Strikers skipper Chay Hews and striker Nick Robinson had half-chances to reduce the deficit, the home side struggled to find fluency against their opponents and Roar goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos had little to do between the posts.
Despite the outstanding form displayed in the opening 45 minutes, the Brisbane Roar coaching staff opted for an array of substitutes after the half-time break with defender Matt Smith and attacking weapon Nick Fitzgerald the only starters to take the field for the second half.
The switch of personnel had no impact on the flow of the game with Postecoglou-s players continuing to control the midfield and dominate possession.
Midfielder Chris Bush grabbed a double either side of Kofi Danning-s debut goal, both strikes a result of Brisbane-s characteristic build-up play while Danning pounced on a wayward backward back pass in the 67th minute to make his mark on the match.
Strikers failed to properly test substitute ‘keeper Andrew Redmayne at any stage in the second half and the match finished 5-0 in favour of Brisbane Roar.
Brisbane Strikers 0
Brisbane Roar 5 (James MEYER 4-, 10-, Chris BUSH 64-, 83-, Kofi DANNING 67-)
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Perry Park, Brisbane
Referee: Matt Gillett
Brisbane Strikers line-up: 1. Brendan WHITE (gk), 2. Ryan MOTTIN, 3. Jordan MASON, 4. Dylan GOODMAN, 5. Nick ROBINSON, 7. Chay HEWS, 8. Michael ANGUS, 9. Chris DI SIPIO, 12. Ben GRIFFIN, 14. Jacob VIDULICH, 17. Myles CARSELDINE
Substitutes: 6. Nathan RYLAND, 10. Matt CHRISTENSON, 11. Taylor MARSHALL, 13. Sean BURKE, 15. Jonti RICHTER, 16. Angus McLACHLAN, 18. Nathan ALEXANDER, 19. Chris MAHER, 20. Willem ROCKET, 22. Nick DANCIC
Brisbane Roar line-up: 1. Michael THEOKLITOS (gk), 2. Matt SMITH, 3. Shane STEFANUTTO, 4. Matthew JURMAN, 6. Erik PAARTALU, 7. Nicholas FITZGERALD, 8. Massimo MURDOCCA, 14. Jack HINGERT, 17. Mitch NICHOLS, 21. James MEYER, 22. Thomas BROICH
Substitutes: 5. Ivan FRANJIC, 9. Kofi DANNING. 10. Tomislav CIRJAK, 11. James DONACHIE, 12. Matt MUNDY, 13. George LAMBADARIDIS, 16. Mohamed ADNAN, 18. Luke BRATTAN, 19. Chris BUSH, 20. Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 23. Jake McLEAN, 24. Ken DOUGALL
