Brisbane Roar have defeated Western Sydney Wanderers in a thrilling encounter at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night, moving back to the summit of the table alongside their opponents in the process.
Helter skelter. Simon Hill has a knack of summing up manic football matches in so few words and tonight, he could not have been more accurate.
Brisbane were cruising at 1-0 and looked headed for a much needed clean sheet before Michael Theo’s error forced an Andreu equaliser from the penalty spot. Just eight minutes later, it was 3-2 Brisbane and a raucous home crowd at Suncorp Stadium roared their boys in orange through to the final whistle.
John Aloisi’s men join Tony Popovic’s Wanderers at the summit of the A-League for 24 hours at least, but there could be a new leader by tomorrow evening.
No place like home
When Brisbane had possession for the majority of tonight’s fixture, you could not have guessed they were a side that had shipped nine goals on the road in the previous two weeks, such was their confidence, purpose and vigour across all three lines.
Coach Aloisi will no doubt be pleased with the three points but disappointed with the way his side fell apart once the Wanderers found an equaliser.
The top side in the league are never likely to roll over but tonight could have been much simpler for the Roar.
Maclaren proficient once more
Jamie Maclaren’s move from the west coast of our nation to the east continues to pay supreme dividends for the young striker. He’s still in the race for A-League Golden Boot and with Australia’s 2018 World Cup qualifiers upcoming, he couldn’t have himself in better form, considering Ange Postecoglou’s commitment to selecting the in-form players from our domestic competition.
Brisbane are a much better side with him up front and Roar fans will be hoping he can keep himself fit as the home and away section of the season reaches its climax.
The ever-unpredictable A-League
How’s everyone’s A-League tipping competition going this season? Other than Adelaide’s 13-match unbeaten run, there hasn’t been a ‘lock’ in a weekend for months on end. The old cliché of a game going for 90 minutes perhaps rings most true within our shores, such is the ability of a game to switch momentum and turn from a tight, fiery battle into a goalfest for all three points within eight minutes.
Fans of the Australian version of the game will be eagerly anticipating the run-in to the finals following tonight’s epic encounter.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
