Melbourne Victory have taken all three points in our final home Hyundai A-League game of 2018 in a high-scoring encounter at Suncorp Stadium.
All six of the game’s goals were scored before the break with the Victory taking a 4-2 advantage into half time – a lead they held until the final whistle.
Head Coach John Aloisi was pleased with his side’s start, but conceded the game changed complexion following a red card for Eric Bautheac in the 20th minute.
“I thought that 11v11, we were matching them. We should have scored early on then they scored off their first chance,” Aloisi said.
“I think 11v11 we would have given them a good go, but it’s difficult then when you go down to 10-men against a team like the Victory.
“It will turn for us.
“When you keep playing like we are, it will turn. Last year, we went on a run and won seven out of ten games. We’ll go on another run like that, we just have to pick ourselves, prepare for Wellington, and stick together.
“You could see that tonight – even with 10 men, the boys ran and fought together.”
Brisbane almost got off to the perfect start, only denied by two blocks on his own line from Ola Toivonen inside the opening two minutes.
However, it would be the Victory who opened the scoring in the 13th minute through Kosta Barbarouses, who benefited from a deft James Troisi pass, but the lead would only last 14 minutes.
Despite being reduced to 10 men in the 20th minute, a foul inside the area from Keisuke Honda allowed Adam Taggart to step up to the spot in his 100th Hyundai A-League game and bury his sixth goal of the season.
Melbourne made their manpower advantage count & reinstated their lead five minutes later through Toivonen, before Honda extended the margin to two goals from the penalty spot with five minutes to play.
A pulsating first half would still have two more key moments. A dangerous free-kick from Lopez brought Lawrence Thomas off his line before the Victory keeper was beaten by one of his own in Toivonen.
The visitors did then take back their two-goal lead in the final stages of the first half, with Barbarouses netting his second of the contest and the Victory’s fourth.
The heavens opened early in what was a less frenetic second-half as the visitors looked to control play and maintain their two-goal buffer.
The respective keepers were rarely called upon as Suncorp Stadium copped a soaking in the second 45 minutes, as the Victory took the points with no change to the half-time scoreline.
The Roar now face three straight games on the road against Wellington Phoenix (Saturday, 22 December), Sydney FC (Saturday, 29 December) and Newcastle Jets (Wednesday, 2 January).
STORY OF THE GAME
- Brisbane was denied an opening goal inside two minutes by a double block from Ola Toivonen before the Victory opened the scoring in the 13th minute.
- Eric Bautheac was sent off in the 20th minute after picking up two yellows in quick succession. The Roar then equalised seven minutes later before Ola Toivonen restored the Victory’s lead in the 32nd minute.
- The Victory added two more goals in the first half either side of an own goal from Ola Toivonen in what would round out the scoring for the contest.
- Adam Taggart marked his 100th Hyundai A-League appearance with a first-half goal – his sixth of the season.
GOALS
Melbourne Victory – Barbarouses 13′ – 0-1
Keisuke Honda wins the ball in the attacking third, lays off to James Troisi who floats a ball to the back post which is met by Kosta Barbarouses with a neat finish.
Brisbane Roar – Taggart 27’ – 1-1
After being brought down by Honda in the box, Adam Taggart steps up to the spot and converts his sixth goal of the season to pull the Roar level.
Melbourne Victory – Toivonen 32’ – 1-2
Corey Brown thunders down the line, cuts inside and curls the ball to an unmarked Toivonen, who collects and finishes past Jamie Young.
Melbourne Victory – Honda 40’ – 1-3
The Victory are awarded a penalty and Honda makes no mistake as he slots it home.
Brisbane Roar – Own goal 42’ – 2-3
Toivonen deflects Lopez’s free kick and inadvertently converts the ball into his own net.
Melbourne Victory – Barbarouses 45+2’ – 2-4
A simple set piece from a corner pays dividends for the visitors as Troisi lays the ball off to Barbarouses, who turns and flicks the ball into the back post in the dying minute of the first half.
MATCH DETAILS
Hyundai A-League 2018/19 – Round 8: Brisbane Roar v Melbourne Victory
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Friday, 14 December
Brisbane Roar 2 (Taggart 27′ pen., Own goal 42′
Melbourne Victory 4 (Barbarouses 13′, 45+2′, Toivonen 32′, Honda 40′ pen.
Half-time: 2-4
Crowd: 10,289
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