Melbourne Victory was beaten 2-1 by a clinical Brisbane Roar in the Hyundai A-League on Friday.
Summary
Massimo Maccarone and Brett Holman scored first-half goals for Brisbane at AAMI Park as Roar made the most of their opportunities.
Victory dominated the second half and managed to pull a goal back thanks to a stunning strike from James Troisi, but it was unable to find an equaliser despite its late push.
While Victory was lively early, Brisbane scored with its first attack, Maccarone finding the bottom corner from inside the area.
The host should have levelled in the 18th minute, but Rhys Williams mishit his volley from a Terry Antonis cross.
Roar doubled their lead before the half-hour mark, Holman finishing clinically on the counter-attack after receiving a Maccarone pass.
Victory continued to push and went close in the 32nd minute, only for Leroy George’s powerful volley to be saved by Jamie Young.
A brilliant sliding tackle by James Donachie denied Maccarone early in the second half to keep Brisbane from scoring a third goal.
Victory dominated the second half and it got a deserved goal in the 83rd minute.
Troisi, who came off the bench in the 56th minute, scored a screamer, firing into the top corner from 35 yards, but Victory was unable to find an equaliser.
Player in focus
Key moment
What they said – Troisi
on his goal…
“To be honest, I think that’s the first time I’ve shot outside the box this season. (When you) get the ball like that, 2-0 down, just hit it. I’ve got a good strike on me when I connect and I should do it more often this season, obviously happy to get the goal, but another disappointing result and performance.”
on the game…
“I think most of the time this season we’ve started really well and if we don’t take our opportunities and we let goals in, we make it very difficult for ourselves. When you’ve conceded more goals than you’ve scored, obviously it’s not a good thing so that’s something we need to rectify as soon as possible because it’s costing us.”
on starting on the bench…
“I respect the boss’ decision. I go about my business exactly the same way as I do every week. I don’t change the way I play, I’m trying to stick to a structure, some games it works, some games it doesn’t, and I’ll continue to do the same thing week in, week out.”
Result
Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Round 20
Melbourne Victory 1 (James Troisi 83′)
Brisbane Roar 2 (Massimo Maccarone 7′, Brett Holman 28′)
Melbourne Victory: Thomas (gk), Geria, Williams, Donachie, Broxham, Valeri (c) (Hope 76′), Sanchez (Troisi 56′), Antonis, Barbarouses, Berisha (Athiu 73′), George
Brisbane Roar: Young (gk), Hingert, Papadopoulos, North (Bowles 79′), Franjic, Kristensen, McKay (c), Holman, Bautheac, Maccarone (Gameiro 80′), Ben Khalfallah (Brady 85′)
Yellow cards: Sanchez 22′, Kristensen 50′, Donachie 68′, Papadopoulos 85′
Red cards: Nil
Attendance: TBA
Venue: AAMI Park
Next up
Victory opens its AFC Champions League campaign, hosting Ulsan Hyundai at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Tuesday night. Tickets available here.
