A brilliant strike from Henrique allowed a brave Brisbane Roar to put a difficult fortnight behind them and post a gutsy 1-0 win over Adelaide United in tonight’s Hyundai A-League clash at Coopers Stadium.
Henrique netted his seventh of the season with a spectacular shot in the 19th minute that secured the three points and took the Roar back into the top six.
From just outside the box on the left, the crafty Brazilian taunted the Reds defence before he curled a powerful right foot shot into the top far corner of the goal giving Adelaide ‘keeper Eugene Galekovic no chance.
Just three minutes later, Henrique was in the action again and set up Dimi Petratos who should have scored but put his left-foot shot onto the upright then skied the rebound.
Henrique was causing the Reds defence problems every time he got the ball and it was no surprise that he came in for some special attention from Adelaide.
In the 29th minute, Reds defender Dylan McGowan hit Henrique late in a tackle and the Roar striker copped a direct blow to the back of his left knee.
He hobbled back on two minutes later but the speed and sting that had split the Adelaide defence earlier was gone and in the 42nd minute, Brisbane were forced to replace Henrique with fellow winger Brandon Borrello.
After a fortnight in which they lost marque player Thomas Broich to injury and captain Matt Smith was granted a transfer request, the Roar had heroes all over the park.
Playing with renewed confidence under new interim coach Frans Thijssen, a reshuffled side saw James Donachie come into the backline for Smith, Steven Lustica start in midfield and Jean Carlos Solorzano given the nod up front.
Donachie was solid throughout in a Roar backline that withstood sustained second-half pressure from the Reds with Corey Brown and Jade North also playing superbly.
But Roar keeper Jamie Young proved to be the difference – he was outstanding throughout and in addition to a string of top saves and powerful punches, he protected the three points two minutes from time when he saved a point blank shot from close range by Adelaide’s Pablo Sanchez.
Socceroo Matt McKay wore the Roar captain’s armband as he led the team into his 162nd Hyundai A-League game – equalling the club record held by Massimo Murdocca.
In a nice touch, McKay handed the armband back to Smith, who came on as an 89th minute substitute ahead of his move to Thai Premier League club Bangkok Glass next week.
Despite late pressure, Brisbane’s defence was superb and held on for three points against an Adelaide side that had not lost at home in 14 games.
The Reds’ last defeat there was a 1-2 loss to the Roar in December last year and the Roar has now beaten them in five consecutive games in Adelaide.
Friday, 12 December, 2014
Hyundai A-League 2014/15 Round 10
Adelaide United 0
Brisbane Roar 1 (HENRIQUE19’)
Halftime: 0-1
Coopers Stadium, Adelaide
Referee: Lucien Laverdure
Crowd: 11,241
Adelaide United: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk/c), 2.Michael MARRONE, 4.Dylan McGOWAN, 7.Pablo SÁNCHEZ, 8.ISAÍAS, 9.Sergio CIRIO, 11.Bruce DJITE, 16.Craig GOODWIN, 18.Jimmy JEGGO (14.Cameron WATSON 77’), 21.Tarek ELRICH, 22.Fabio FERREIRA (17.Awer MABIL 67).
Substitutes not used: 15. Benjamin WARLAND, 24.Bruce KAMAU, 30.John HALL (GK).
Yellow cards: 21.Tarek ELRICH 45+2’, 8.ISAÍAS 73’
Red cards: Nil
Brisbane Roar: 5.Corey BROWN, 8.Steven LUSTICA, 10.HENRIQUE (28.Brandon BORRELLO 42’), 12.Jean Carlos SOLORZANO (2.Matthew SMITH 89’), 13.Jade NORTH, 14.Daniel BOWLES, 15.James DONACHIE, 17.Matt McKAY (c), 18.Luke BRATTAN, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 23.Dimitri PETRATOS (4.Adam SAROTA 79’),
Substitutes not used: 7.Mensur KURTISHI, 30.Matthew ACTON (gk).
Yellow cards: 13.Jade NORTH 3’, 14.Daniel BOWLES 47’, 5.Corey BROWN 64’, 28.Brandon BORRELLO 74’, 15.James DONACHIE 79’
Red cards: Nil
