Brisbane Roar provisionally surged into top spot of the A-League with a dominant 5-0 mauling over Melbourne Victory at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
An exceptional hat-trick from Jamie Maclaren as well as goals from Corey Brown and Corona consigned the Victory to lose more ground in their hunt for a top four berth.
Maclaren opened the scoring on 18 minutes with an instinctive finish inside the 18-yard-box, rounding off a neat attacking move.
Thomas Broich then should have made it 2-0, but his tame effort from Jack Hingert’s cut-back was hit straight at gloveman Danny Vukovic on his record 250th A-League appearance.
However, they did not have to wait long to extend their lead, albeit in controversial circumstances in the build up to Maclaren’s 16th strike of the season.
Besart Berisha’s claims for a blatant penalty were dismissed, but Brisbane did not care as Dimitri Petratos exposed the Victory on a swift counter-attack with an expertly-weighted ball into the path of Maclaren, who duly lobbed the ball over Vukovic into a vacant net.
The second-half saw the Roar continue to exert their dominance with Broich missing another clear-cut chance which would have ended the match as a contest.
But minutes later, a fortuitous deflection off ex-Roar striker Berisha from Brown’s strike flew past the helpless former Perth Glory shot-stopper to pile more misery on Kevin Muscat’s men.
Another ruthless counter from Brisbane invited Corona to net his second of the campaign thanks to an audacious chip.
Maclaren completed the rout and his hat-trick, capitalising on some static Melbourne defending three minutes from time.
Here are some of the best reactions from Twitter:
More @gomvfc fans in Brisbane than Brisbane fans…. #BRIvMVC pic.twitter.com/9fJrejaFsJ
— melie may (@meliemay) March 12, 2016
This pitch looks a disgrace, what an embarrassment for the #aleague #BRIvMVC
— Michael Cursio (@Meetuinzion) March 12, 2016
I want to think Brisbane are playing counter attack but they just seem to be giving the ball straight back instead.#BRIvMVC
— Zachary King (@kingzac) March 12, 2016
Is it just me or is the game being held on the surface of the moon?? The pitch is woefull ?? @ALeague @gomvfc @brisbaneroar #BRIvMVC #MVFC
— Bobbi P (@bngboy1) March 12, 2016
OHHH YEAAHHHHH J-MAC at the double! GET IN BOY! THX Ange for not selecting him for @Socceroos & firing him up. 2-0! #BRIvMVC
— (not) Brisbane Roar (@Brisbane_Roar) March 12, 2016
Gee MacLaren is a fine young striker, only needs half a chance and bang…goal! #BRIvMVC
— Ivan Hecimovic (@hecivan70) March 12, 2016
Nope. Made my mind up. Mahazi. Time for the sub. Woeful tonight. Sloppy, lazy. Just not there mentally. #BRIvMVC #hasmates
— Benny Jones (@benjiman1983) March 12, 2016
We are cooked..nothing more needs to be said #mvfc #aleague #BRIvMVC
— Chris Quirk (@Chrisquirk) March 12, 2016
Who cares about Top 6.
If MVFC can't finish Top2 & qualify for ACL, it's a failed season.
Currently we're mediocre, mid-table team#BRIvMVC— Dean Rosario (@DeanRosario) March 12, 2016
Sadly we are nothing without Kosta, honestly the most critical player in our team without a good replacement we will struggle big time
— Mitchell Clark (@Mitchclark18) March 12, 2016
Broich has spurned 2 glorious chances. Couldn't buy a goal ATM. That should have sealed the game there. #BRIvMVC
— (not) Brisbane Roar (@Brisbane_Roar) March 12, 2016
Decent roll up. Aim should be 20k for a fixture like this, but good showing on a rainy BNE day. #BRIvMVC https://t.co/TX73cFXKUr
— (not) Brisbane Roar (@Brisbane_Roar) March 12, 2016
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