Brisbane Roar opened their 2024/25 Isuzu UTE A-League campaign with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Auckland at Go Media Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
An own goal coupled with a Logan Rogerson strike saw the home side take all three points in front of a sold out crowd in their first ever A-League match.
The host opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Hiroki Sakai burst down the right before firing a dangerous delivery across the face of goal that Harry Van Der Saag diverted into his own net.
Roar grew into the game as the contest with debutant, Neicer Acosta and Thomas Waddingham forcing Alex Paulsen into a pair of strong saves with efforts from the top of the box.
Belgian midfielder, Louis Verstraete came close to adding a second for the home side when he fired a strike from the edge of the area inches wide of the bottom corner.
Three minutes into the second half Guillermo May poked an effort just wide of the mark after his side forced a turnover inside the Roar penalty area.
Lively winger, Liam Gillion came close in the 63rd minute when he got in behind the Roar defence on the end of a sweeping team move but Macklin Freke came up big to deny the winger.
Rogerson rounded out the 2-0 scoreline in the 75th minute when he turned home a Francis De Vries cross at the back post with a first-time finish.
Walid Shour had Roar’s best opportunity of the second stanza with an effort from range that left Alex Paulsen scrambling.
Shour was one of seven players to debut for Roar with Harry Van Der Saag, Ben Warland Neicer Acosta, Rafael Struick, Hosine Bility and Queensland youngster, Ivan Ozzi all playing their first A-League match for the club on Saturday.
Ben Halloran and Sam Klein, who both returned to the club in the off season also played their first A-League minutes back at Roar.
Next up for Roar is a home clash against Sydney FC at Suncorp Stadium on Friday, November 1. Get your tickets HERE
MATCH DETAILS
Isuzu UTE A-League Men 2024/25 – Round 1: Auckland FC vs Brisbane Roar
Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Saturday, 19 October
Auckland FC – 1 (OWN GOAL 8’, Logan ROGERSON 75’)
Brisbane Roar – 0
Brisbane Roar team: 1. Macklin FREKE (GK), 4. Ben WARLAND, 6. Joe CALETTI (24. Sam KLEIN), 8. Walid SHOUR, 11. Neicer ACOSTA (15. Hosine BILITY, 81′), 16. Thomas WADDINGHAM (7. Rafael STRUICK 68′), 17. Harry VAN DER SAAG (19. Jack HINGERT 68′), 21. Antonee BURKE-GILROY, 23. Keegan JELACIC (49. Ivan OZZI 85′), 26. Jay O’SHEA (C), 27. Ben HALLORAN
Unused substitutes: 29. Matt ACTON (GK), 35. Louis ZABALA
