Brisbane Roar sensationally recovered from a two-goal half time deficit to claim a pulsating 4-3 victory over Wellington Phoenix in a Hyundai A-League thriller at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
Trailing 3-1 at the break, the hosts scored three times in a scintillating 16-minute spell to seize the advantage in the race for third spot.
Wellington led early through Roy Krishna but appeared to have wasted their lively start when Brett Holman thundered home an equaliser 15 minutes later.
Roar’s makeshift back four fell apart late in the opening stanza though and was breached twice in quick succession by Gui Finkler and Michael McGlinchey.
John Aloisi’s side needed a lifeline after the restart and got it when Brandon Borrello’s curler cut the deficit, before Jamie Maclaren equalised with his 50th Hyundai A-League goal just two minutes later.
Holman sealed the swift turnaround with a second stunner in the 67th minute which, despite Maclaren failing to score from the spot, was enough to send Brisbane three points clear of Melbourne City in third.
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GOALS
0-1 Phoenix: Krishna, 6’
Gui Finkler gave Krishna one to chase and the Fijian was too quick and strong for Cameron Crestani, holding off the young defender before burying a left-footed finish.
1-1 Roar: Holman, 21’
Holman steamed through the centre of the pitch, steadied and hammered an absolute bullet which flew beyond Lewis Italiano.
1-2 Phoenix: Finkler, 38’
Michael McGlinchey’s cutback from the left finds Finkler free on the penalty spot for a simple finish.
1-3 Phoenix: McGinchley, 41’
Crestani fails to deal with Finkler’s cross and McGlinchey arrives to tuck away the scraps.
2-3 Roar: Borrello, 51’
Out of seemingly little, Borrello stepped inside and curled a perfect left-footed finish just inside the far post.
3-3 Roar: Maclaren, 53’
After deflecting Borrello’s initial effort, Maclaren repositioned in the penalty area to slam home Tommy Oar’s cutback on the follow-up attack.
4-3 Roar: Holman, 67’
Wellington failed to heed the lessons of the first-half as they again allowed Holman to pick his spot from outside the area. The veteran midfielder duly speared an unerring first-time finish into the bottom corner.
CROWD
12,098 @ Suncorp Stadium
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