Brisbane Roar returned to the Isuzu UTE A-League winners circle with a 2-1 victory over Central Coast Mariners at Industree Group Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Goals from Florin Berenguer and Thomas Waddingham sealed all three points for the Roar on an afternoon where both sides finished with ten men after Joe Caletti and Harrison Steele were both dismissed in the second half.
POST MATCH REACTION: Thomas Waddingham
POST MATCH REACTION: Florin Berenguer
Berenguer opened the scoring in the 19th minute when a Nikola Mileusnic cutback found him unmarked inside the area before the midfielder fired a delicate finish into the bottom corner for what was his second goal in as many weeks.
Alou Kuol restored parity for the home side in the 31st minute when he got in behind the Roar defence and finished one-on-one.
The Mariners looked to have been awarded a spot-kick five minutes later, following a collision between Christian Theoharous and Kai Trewin inside the area, however the decision was over ruled following VAR review.
Waddingham then popped up with what proved to be the matchwinner in the 41st minute, firing home a Trewin cross with a first-time finish for what was the 18-year-old’s first Isuzu UTE A-League goal.
Roar were reduced to ten men early in the second half when Caletti received his second caution of the contest for a foul on Kuol.
However, the hosts numerical advantage was short lived with substitute Harrison Steele being shown red in the 63rd minute for a lunging challenge on Jay O’Shea, just four minutes after the midfielder entered the play from the bench.
16-year-old, Rylan Brownlie came closest to adding to the scoring in the closing stages of the contest, with a Danny Vukovic fingertip save sending his near-post effort against the crossbar.
Sunday’s 2-1 win sees Roar finish the weekend inside the top six, just a point shy of league leaders Western Sydney Wanderers after four rounds of action.
Sunday’s match also saw Corey Brown return to the side after 617 days out, while new signing, Antonee Burke-Gilroy and Jez Lofthouse both made their first appearances of the season off the bench in the second half.
The Isuzu UTE A-League pauses next weekend for an international break before Brisbane are back at home with a clash against Perth Glory at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, November 26. Get your tickets now.
MATCH DETAILS
Isuzu UTE A-League Men 2023/24 – Round 4: Central Coast Mariners v Brisbane Roar
Industree Group Stadium, Gosford
Sunday, 12 November
Central Coast Mariners – 1 (Alou KUOL 31’)
Brisbane Roar – 2 (Florin BERENGUER 19’, Thomas WADDINGHAM 41’)
