Brisbane Roar kicked off their A-League campaign in style with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Macarthur FC in the opening round of the season at Suncorp Stadium – their first opening round home win since the 2011/12 season. A confident and high-tempo first half laid the foundation for the win, as the Roar took control early and showcased their attacking intent.
A composed penalty from captain Jay O’Shea gave the home side a deserved lead before Brisbane were forced to dig deep, playing the final half-hour with ten men after Dimitri Valkanis was sent off.
The Roar showed grit, discipline, and determination to keep Macarthur away from their goal and secure all three points in front of a supportive home crowd.
Brisbane came out firing in the first half with high intensity and clear intent, holding their ground impressively to nullify the Macarthur attack. From the kick-off, the Roar asserted themselves through quick ball movement and sharp off-the-ball runs, constantly testing the Bulls’ defence.
Early free kicks and a flurry of corners handed Brisbane several promising opportunities, with Sam Klein lighting up the crowd with clever footwork and attacking flair. As the half progressed, tensions rose when Dimitri Valkanis was shown a yellow card following a foul on McArthur’s winger Chris Ikonomidis.
Brisbane’s efforts were eventually rewarded late in the half. After a swift counter-attacking play, Macarthur captain Luke Brattan was penalised for a handball in the box. In the 36th minute, Captain Jay O’Shea stepped up and calmly slotted the resulting penalty, giving the Roar a deserved 1–0 lead at the break.
The second half saw the intensity rise even higher, determined to keep their momentum going, Brisbane Roar made strategic substitutions, bringing on Justin Vidic and Michael Ruhs to inject fresh energy into the game.
Although, the tide turned drastically in favour of Macarthur when in the 58th minute Valkanis, already on a booking, received his second yellow card after a late challenge on Sawyer. The referee had no hesitation in sending him off, reducing Roar to ten men with over 30 minutes still to play.
Despite being one man down, Brisbane showed true determination in front of the Roar faithful to keep the Bulls at bay. Lucas Herrington came on to help shore up the defensive structure, as the Roar dug deep to protect their lead. The Den roared louder than ever, rallying behind their team.
Under pressure but undeterred, Brisbane held firm. Their defensive discipline and sheer determination allowed them to see out the match, proving their strength and character even when the odds were stacked against them.
Brisbane’s next home match is set for October 31, against Melbourne City. Tickets can be purchased HERE.
