Brisbane Roar have notched their first Hyundai A-League home win of 2020 in tricky conditions at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The win brings the Roar to within a point of the top six as they surge up the ladder midway through the competition.
The Roar were solid in defence, keeping their third clean sheet of the campaign and ending a nine-game unbeaten run from the Nix.
Dylan Wenzel-Halls found the decisive goal almost immediately after he entered the fray in the second half as he passed Steven Taylor with a crafty touch and cannoned the ball off the underside of the crossbar.
Head Coach Robbie Fowler was complimentary of his side’s performance, in particular after the break.
“Our lads, especially in the second half, I thought were very good. For that 30 – 35 minutes, that’s the way we want to play, the right attitude, the right desire,” Fowler said.
“As much as they had a little more possession, I thought we were good value.
“The effort was outstanding & Dylan [Wenzel-Halls] getting the goal was brilliant.”
The result extends the Roar’s unbeaten run to four matches and keeps an unbeaten record in 2020 intact, setting a strong platform for the Roar to launch into the remainder of the season.
“We’re in a good place right now – we’ve had not only good results but performance wise we’ve been okay,” Fowler said.
“I think the back three plus the two wing-backs were very good especially in the second half and that is what we want.”
New recruits Corey Brown and Scott McDonald were both influential throughout the 90 minutes.
“Corey Brown was very good today and Scott McDonald has added to us as well,” Fowler continued.
“When new players come into the club it gives everyone a bit of a lift and we’re happy.”
Brisbane look ahead to two games on the road starting with Central Coast Mariners in Gosford on Saturday, 25 January (4pm KO).
GOALS
Brisbane Roar – Wenzel-Halls 69′ – 1-0
Wenzel-Halls neatly passes Steven Taylor before rocketing a shot in off the underside of the crossbar.
MATCH DETAILS
Hyundai A-League 2019/20: Round 15 – Brisbane Roar v Wellington Phoenix
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Saturday, 18 January
Brisbane Roar 1 (Wenzel-Halls 69′)
Wellington Phoenix 0
Half-time: 0-0
