Brisbane Roar created plenty of opportunities but were unable to find the net during a 1-0 defeat to Western United at AAMI Park on Sunday night
Dylan Pierias scored the decisive goal with a brave diving header in the 72nd minute before Connor Pain had a goal chalked off by VAR deep into injury time as plenty of feeling came into the game nearing the full time whistle.
Riku Danzaki and Jay O’Shea were both denied by top drawer saves in the second half while the outcome was in the balance but possibly the best chance fell to substitute Masato Kudo whose turn and strike inside the area flew narrowly over the crossbar.
“If you don’t take your chances, you’re not good enough to win the game,” Coach Warren Moon stated after full time when asked if he thought Brisbane deserved more out of the contest.
“For us we’ve got to just keep working hard, keep finding solutions in that final third.”
“I’ll look at the game tonight, and it’s fine margins,” he continued, “[but] ultimately we weren’t good enough in the game because they had that one moment of quality and we couldn’t find it.”
Plenty of interest has surrounded Dylan Wenzel-Halls and his potential selection in an Olyroos squad something that Moon doesn’t believe is out of the realm of possibility.
“That’s not my place to say,” he said. “I think Dylan’s going very well and I think he’s improving all the time. I thought he was good in the game tonight, did a lot of good things.”
“If he keeps improving, I guess people will pay attention to him and if he gets selected that’s great for him.”
Without a win in six games, Moon still strongly believes that with a little bit of luck on their side a turnaround in form could be just around the corner.
“I don’t think we’re playing too badly, I think the performances are quite good…but we have to start looking at ways to find the back of the net [so] we’ll work hard in training this week and look at all our [attacking player] options moving forward.”
Another away game awaits on Sunday afternoon when Brisbane travel to Newcastle to be part of a historic double header when they play the covid-stranded Wellington Phoenix.
GOALS
Western United – Pierias 72’ – 1-0
Diamanti curls a perfect cross behind the defence which is finished by Pierias with a brave diving header at the far post
MATCH DETAILS
A-League 2021 Matchweek 12 : Western United vs Brisbane Roar
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Sunday 14th March
Western United 1 (Pierias 72’)
Brisbane Roar 0
Half-time: 0-0
