Head Coach Robbie Fowler has enjoyed the perfect start to life as Brisbane Roar Head Coach with his side securing a 2-0 victory over defending Hyundai A-League Champions Sydney FC on Wednesday night.
Goals either side of half time from Stefan Mauk and Jay OāShea at Leichhardt Oval were enough to secure the Roarās passage through the FFA Cup Round of 32 for the first time since 2014.
Speaking post-match, Fowler said he was absolutely delighted with his side’s showing as they handed Sydney FC their first ever Round of 32 defeat.
āI think everyone involved did a great job, we were magnificent tonight, we are a new team as we said before the game,” Fowler said post-match.
āEverything that weāve learned, everything that weāve done in pre season, weāve done it tonight. Iām so, so chuffed.
āThe fitness levels were really good and weāve defended magnificently, weāve just beaten an unbelievable team in Sydney.
āYou canāt ask much more, our lads have given everything and they should be rightly proud of what theyāve done tonight because theyāve beaten an unbelievable team,ā Fowler said.
The Head Coach added his side wouldnāt be getting ahead of themselves as they now prepare for a Round of 16 clash against Central Coast Mariners at home.
āWe know weāve got a good bunch of lads that are always going to work for each other. We know that it’s only one game and thereās still a lot of work to be done and plenty of games to be had,” Fowler continued.
āWeāll enjoy this but weāll be back on the training park and preparing for the next game as well as we can
GOALS
Brisbane Roar ā Mauk 41ā ā 0-1
Mauk opens his account for the Roar with his deflected strike finding the back of the net after some delightful work in the build up from OāShea.
Brisbane Roar ā OāShea 47ā ā 0-2
OāDonovanās ball from the right is well left by Inman into the path of OāShea who buries a powerful strike into the roof of the net.
STORY OF THE GAME
- Nine players make their competitive debut for the Club as a new-look Brisbane Roar side secure victory of the defending Hyundai A-League Champions in Robbie Fowlerās first match in charge.
- BRFC Academy member Jordan Courtney-Perkins becomes the Roarās youngest ever player aged 16 years, nine months.
- An airtight shift from the Roarās defensive unit sees the side keep just their second ever FFA Cup clean sheet.
MATCH DETAILS
FFA Cup Round of 32: Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar
Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
Tuesday, 6 August
Sydney FC 0
Brisbane Roar 2 (Mauk 41ā, OāShea 47ā)
Half-time: 0-1
Crowd: 2,350
Photos: Speed Media/Getty Images