Orlando Engelaar’s second half goal was the difference as Brisbane Roar struggled to overcome a resurgent Melbourne Heart outfit at AAMI Park today, losing 1-0.
Orlando Engelaar-s second half goal was the difference as Brisbane Roar struggled to overcome a resurgent Melbourne Heart outfit at AAMI Park today, losing 1-0.
Despite their last-placed position on the Hyundai A-League ladder, the Heart were unbeaten in their past five outings heading into the match and were coming off a 5-0 drumming of Wellington Phoenix away from home.
The Roar welcomed midfield duo Matt McKay and Liam Miller as well as attacking livewire Henrique into the starting eleven but couldn-t find their rhythm consistently against John van-t Schip-s men.
Heart-s Mate Dugandzic created the only goal of the match for the big Dutchman just after the hour mark, playing the ball across goal after cutting inside Luke Brattan on the goal line and allowing Engelaar to finish easily.
Roar striker Besart Berisha almost snatched a point for the visitors at the death but as he honed in on goal in stoppage time, but Heart defender Patrick Kisnorbo was timely in his tackle to deny the Albanian.
The result sees Mike Mulvey-s side maintain their lead at the top of the Hyundai A-League ladder but it has been reduced to four points.
With a short turnaround this week, Brisbane now face Perth Glory at home on Friday night in round 21 of the Hyundai A-League 2013/14 season.
Melbourne Heart FC 1 (Orlando ENGELAAR 61-)
Brisbane Roar 0
Sunday, 23 February 2013
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Referee: Adam Kersey
Melbourne Heart: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 4. Orlando ENGELAAR (21. Stefan MAUK 83-), 6. Patrick GERHARDT, 7. Iain RAMSAY 19. (Benjamin GARRUCIO 89-), 8. Massimo MURDOCCA (c), 13. Jonatan GERMANO (22. Nicholas KALMAR 69-), 15. David WILLIAMS, 16. Aziz BEHICH, 17. Jason HOFFMAN, 23. Mate DUGANDZIC, 24. Patrick KISNORBO
Substitutes not used: 18. David VRANKOVIC, 20. Tando VELHAPI (gk)
Yellow Cards: Iain RAMSAY 10-, Massimo MURDOCCA 30-, Partick GERHARDT 45+1-, Aziz BEHICH 89-
Red Cards: Nil
Brisbane Roar: 1. Michael THEO (gk), 2. Matthew SMITH (C), 3. Shane STEFANUTTO, 5. IVAN Franjic, 7. Besart BERISHA, 10. HENRIQUE (23. Dimitri PETRATOS 76-), 11. Liam MILLER (15. James DONACHIE 77-), 13. Jade NORTH, 17. Matthew McKAY, 18. Luke BRATTAN (16 Jean Carlos SOLORZANO 86-), 22. Thomas BROICH
Substitutes not used: 14. Diogo FERREIRA, 20. Matthew ACTON (GK)
Yellow Cards: Liam MILLER 40-, Shane STEFANUTTO 50-
Red Cards: Nil
