Brisbane Roar returned to the winner’s circle with a stunning 5-1 victory over defending Premiers, Melbourne City in Isuzu UTE A-League Round 16 action at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
Thomas Waddingham scored a brace, while Kai Trewin, Jay O’Shea and Keegan Jelacic all got in on the act in what was Roar’s biggest win of the 2023/24 season so far.
Trewin opened the scoring inside two minutes with a back post header after Jelacic’s flick on found the defender on the end of an O’Shea corner.
Waddingham made it two in the 30th minute when he bundled home a Nikola Mileusnic cross at the near post for what was his first goal at Suncorp Stadium.
Three minutes later, O’Shea made it three when he cut in from the right and slammed an effort into the bottom corner from the top of the box for what was his seventh goal of the season so far.
Jelacic netted his first Brisbane Roar A-League goal in the 39th minute with an impressive effort from range that Jamie Young couldn’t keep out despite getting fingers to.
A minute after half time Waddingham rounded out his brace and the scoring for the home side when he disposed Curtis Good before driving towards the penalty area and slamming a finish into the bottom corner.
City pulled a goal back through Antonis in the 75th minute, although it proved to be a mere consolation with Roar running out 5-1 winners.
Saturday’s victory sees Roar climb to eighth on the A-League ladder, just two points adrift of the competition’s top six.
Next up for Roar is a trip west to face Perth Glory in Isuzu UTE A-League Round 17 action at HBF Park next Saturday night.
MATCH DETAILS
Isuzu UTE A-League Men 2023/24 – Round 16: Brisbane Roar v Melbourne City
Suncorp Stadium, Milton
Saturday, 10 February
Brisbane Roar – 5 (Kai TREWIN 2’, Thomas WADDINGHAM 30’ 46’, Jay O’SHEA 33’, Keegan JELACIC 39’)
Melbourne City – 1 (Terry ANTONIS 74’)