Two goals to Devante Clut in his first starting appearance of the season has earned Brisbane Roar a point in an entertaining 3-3 draw with Suwon Samsung FC at Gold Coast Stadium tonight.
After fellow teenager Brandon Borrello opened the scoring for Brisbane in the 12th minute, Clut found the back of the net in each half against the K-League club and was named the AFC Champions League Player of the Match for his efforts throughout the 90 minutes.
“He’s a young lad, of course I’m very happy with his performance,” Roar interim Head Coach Frans Thijssen said.
“We put him in on that position because in the youth team he plays in the 10 position.
“We know he’s a player that scores a lot of goals and he showed today that even in the first team, he can be very important.”
The hosts almost made a dream start to the Match Day Three fixture when Luke Brattan, returning to the Roar’s XI following a Hyundai A-League suspension, bent a free-kick inches past No Dong Geon’s post in the first minute.
It didn’t take long for Brisbane to make their fast start count, though, as in-form Borrello opened the scoring in just the 12th minute – his third goal in four games.
Matt McKay found the feet of Andrija Kaluderovic and the striker made space to cleverly square across goal, where Borrello got ahead of Hong Chul to make it 1-0.
Another well-worked team move required defender Min Sang Gi to slide possession away from Clut, but the midfielder didn’t have to wait long to secure his first of the night.
Borrello turned provider this time, weaving away from defenders before teeing up Clut to drive a left-footed finish into the bottom corner.
Roar continued to dominate the opening half hour, going close again through Brattan, but Bluewings found a way back into the match late in the first half.
A defensive turnover allowed Chong Te Se to pick out the run of Seo Jung Jin, who turned inside and finished despite Roar goalkeeper Jamie Young’s efforts.
Suwon’s revival continued after the break with winger Seo this time wriggling free of defenders before burying his shot in the bottom corner to level matters at 2-2.
Roar responded strongly as McKay drew a sharp save from No Dong Geon, while defender Jo Sung Jin was needed to make a crucial block on Kaluderovic.
However, Bluewings continued to profit at the other end by making it 3-2 in the 71st minute when Jong volleyed home Yeom Ki Hun’s cross.
Young then denied Jong to keep his side in the match and the save proved crucial, with Clut capping a see-sawing thriller at the other end.
The 19-year-old received possession well outside the penalty and fired a superb dipping over No to secure a pulsating 3-3 draw.
The result leaves both sides level on four points in Group G ahead of the return fixture in April. Brisbane now face Hyundai A-League league leaders Wellington Phoenix on Sunday at Suncorp Stadium.
Brisbane Roar 3 (Brandon BORRELLO 12’ Devante CLUT 22’, 80’)
Suwon Samsung FC 3 (SEO Jung Jin 39’, 50’, CHONG Te Se 71’)
AFC Champions League 2015 Match Day Three
Wednesday, 18 March at Gold Coast Stadium, Gold Coast
Referee: Fahad Almirdasi (Saudi Arabia)
Crowd: 5,197
Brisbane Roar: 21. Jamie YOUNG (gk), 3. Shane STEFANUTTO, 9. ANDRIJA Kaluderovic, 10. HENRIQUE, 15. James DONACHIE, 16. Devante CLUT, 17. Matt McKAY (c), 18. Luke BRATTAN, 19. Jack HINGERT, 28. Brandon BORRELLO (23. Dimitri PETRATOS 65’), 33. Luke DEVERE (5. Corey BROWN)
Substitutes not used: 4. Adam SAROTA, 8. Steven LUSTICA, 26. Lachlan JACKSON, 34. Shannon BRADY, 36. Fraser CHALMERS (gk)
Yellow cards: 9. ANDRIJA Kaluderovic 90′
Red cards: Nil
Suwon Samsung FC: 21. NO Dong Geon (gk), 5. JO Sung Jin, 6. KIM Eun Sun, 7. LEE Sang Ho, 13. SEO Jung Jin (11. LEO 78’), 14. CHONG Te Se (18. KAIO 82’)), 16. CHO Ji Hoon (10. SANTOS 59’), 26. YEOM Ki Hun, 33. HONG Chul, 39. MIN Sang Gi
Substitutes Not Used: 2. Choi JAE SOO, 15. KU Ja Ryong, 20. BAEK Ji Hoon, 31. LEE Sang Wook (gk)
Yellow cards: 6. KIM Eun Sun 53′
Red cards: Nil
