Rahmat Akbari scored twice in the opening 10 minutes to lead Brisbane Roar to a comfortable 2-0 win over Adelaide United on Sunday.
The in-form midfielder’s two unerring finishes excited a healthy crowd at the North Ipswich Reserve and set up a confident Roar victory in the team’s first pre-season meeting with Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s opposition.
Just as impressive was the defensive display as goalkeeper Macklin Freke and the unit in front recorded another clean sheet after keeping both Peninsula Power and Lions FC quiet in the FFA Cup.
The platform was set by Akbari’s explosive start to the contest, as he capitalised on space in the box to first find the bottom right corner in the sixth minute and then the bottom left in the eighth minute.
Playing in a more advanced attacking midfield role, the 21-year-old has now scored in multiple pre-season matches in a positive sign of things to come.
Adelaide keeper James Delianov remained the busier of the two glovemen as the afternoon progressed, with sharp saves from Nikola Mileusnić and Cyrus Dehmie keeping the score down.
Akbari threatened a third when he and hometown favourite Alex Parsons both had shots blocked, before the former set up Nick Olsen for an attempt that drifted wide of the left post.
The margin ultimately remained at two for Warren Moon’s men, who maintain a perfect record in the build-up to the new campaign.
That begins away to Melbourne City on Friday, 19 November, with the Roar to welcome the Reds to Queensland once again in their first home fixture on Saturday, 4 December.
Match Details
Pre-Season Friendly: Brisbane Roar vs Adelaide United
North Ipswich Reserve
Sunday, 31 October 2021
Brisbane Roar 2 (Akbari 6′, 8′)
Adelaide United 0
