Match Review:
The Brisbane Roar have found form and joint top spot after a frenetic game with the Western Sydney Wanderers ended 3-2 in their favour.
It started brightly for the Roar who bounced back from a torrid few weeks through Jamie Maclaren who opened the scoring in the fourth minute. Dimitri Petratos generating enough space down the right flank, delivered a low ball into the box that Maclaren got to first, dinking it past Liam Reddy.
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Brisbane dominated the remainder of the half but couldn’t extend their advantage with a stuttering Wanderers stretched.
The second half started slowly with plenty of fouls delaying play and frustrating both coaches.
But with the injection of super sub Brendon Santalab for the Wanderers, the game exploded to life as the striker earned his team a penalty in the 72nd minute. Goalkeeper Theo guilty of catching Santalab and not the ball in the box. Andreu stepped up for the Wanderers to narrowly dispatch the penalty which Theo got a hand to but not enough of one to stop the ball squirming into the goal.
Western Sydney then found themselves in front in the 77th minute as Romeo Castelen beat two Roar defenders in the box and forced the ball past Theo.
The lead didn’t last long however with Maclaren again the scorer for Brisbane in the 81st minute after neatly striking the ball to the bottom left corner after a cross from Corona.
A crazy ten minutes then ended with a disastrous pass from Wanderer Dimas in the 83rd minute finding Roar player Henrique who darted forward and found Petratos in the box who calmly slotted past Reddy.
That was to decide the match with the Wanderers unable to conjure up a response of their own as the Roar joined them level on points atop the A-league ladder. Wanderers ahead on goal difference but both could be overtaken by Adelaide should they beat Wellington tomorrow.
Final Score:
Brisbane Roar 3
Western Sydney Wanderers 2
Match Preview:
The third-placed Brisbane Roar want to keep their push to finish first alive by slaying current leaders the Western Sydney Wanderers. Join The Roar from 8pm (AEDT) for all the action from Suncorp Stadium.
A shocking fortnight for Brisbane has seen them fall from the top of the ladder.
Starting off with 6-3 drubbing at the hands of a resurgent Perth Glory, the Roar were then outplayed by Adelaide United 3-0 last week.
It’s hard to pinpoint what’s gone wrong, but the benching of veteran Thomas Broich last week suggests things aren’t clicking.
While the Wanderers are exactly clicking either, they have found a way to the top. It hasn’t always been pretty, emphasised by a fortunate 2-1 win over Perth Glory last week, but a Santalab goal in the last quarter of the game gave them the three points that has seen them return to the A-League summit. The question is, can they stay there?
It’s been a shaky season for Western Sydney, who have benefited from a Spanish influence, but felt the pain of a misfiring marquee. With a fast-finishing Adelaide sniffing around, a loss tonight would give the Reds real hope of a surprise title.
Brisbane welcome Devante Clut and Shannon Brady into their provisional squad. Jerome Polenz and Jean Carlos Solorzano both remain sidelined with quadricep injuries.
The Wanderers are without out-of-form captain Nikolai Topor-Stanley, serving a one-week suspension, and Australian marquee Dario Vidosic, out with a hamstring injury. Brendan Hamill, Golgol Mebrahtu, Jacob Pepper and Jonathan Aspropotamitis have been promoted into the squad.
It’s not quite the first versus second clash we were expecting a fortnight ago, but this game still may decide who claims the Premiers’ Plate, so join The Roar from 8pm, and be sure to leave your comments below.