Brisbane Roar has become just the fifth team in Hyundai A-League to come from 3-1 behind to win with an incredible comeback victory over Melbourne City on Sunday evening.
In front of a parochial 9,387-strong crowd at the first ever Hyundai A-League game at Dolphin Stadium, a Roy O’Donovan hat-trick was the piece de resistance in the Roar’s maiden victory of the 2019/20 season.
Following his maiden victory as Head Coach, Robbie Fowler praised the character shown by his team.
BE THERE: Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners, November 30
“We knew what we had to do. What I will say is that if you didn’t know that our players & this team has character, then we showed it in abundance in that second half,” Fowler said.
“It was quite incredible. To score four goals against the league leaders shows that we have a little bit about us.
“We even hit the post twice – this shows you that we can score goals and I’ve always believed that we will score goals.”
Welshman Aaron Amadi-Holloway also netted his first goal of his Hyundai A-League career, netting the Roar’s second goal shortly before O’Donovan’s first penalty of the afternoon drew the Roar level.
In a game littered with sparkling attacking play & close calls in front of goal, Tom Aldred also cam within centimetres of his first goal down under, striking the post from an acute angle, as O’Donovan also had in the first half.
O’Donovan’s late strike from the penalty spot sent the Dolphin Stadium crowd into delirium & sees the Roar rise to a point outside the top six ahead of next weekend’s trip across the ditch to face the Phoenix on Saturday.
GOALS
Melbourne City – Maclaren 6′ – 0-1
Jamie Maclaren is played in behind the defence before finishing cutely with his second-touch.
Melbourne City – Maclaren 29′ – 0-2
Maclaren rises highest in the box, glancing a header across goal & in off the upright.
Brisbane Roar – O’Donovan 50′ – 1-2
Jay O’Shea drops a delightful ball in behind for his fellow countryman who finishes around Bouzanis with a second touch.
Melbourne City – Maclaren 51′ – 1-3
From the kick-off, City march down the other end as a looping header from Maclaren re-extends the visitors’ lead to two goals.
Brisbane Roar – Amadi-Holloway 60′ – 2-3
Jai Ingham’s head across the face to the back post is poked home by Amadi-Holloway for his first goal in Brisbane orange.
Brisbane Roar – O’Donovan 64′ – 3-3
Amadi-Holloway is fouled in the area before O’Donovan sends Bouzanis the wrong & draws the Roar level
Brisbane Roar – O’Donovan 83′ – 4-3
A VAR check sees Alex King point to the spot where O’Donovan makes no mistake, netting the decisive strike.
MATCH DETAILS
Hyundai A-League 2019/20 Round 6: Brisbane Roar v Melbourne City
Dolphin Stadium, Redcliffe
Sunday, 17 November
Brisbane Roar 4 (O’Donovan 50′, 64′ (pen.), 83′ (pen.), Amadi-Holloway 60′)
Melbourne City 3 (Maclaren 6′, 29′, 51′)
Half-time: 0-2
