No surprises as Roar see off Glory

It was an action packed game at Suncorp Stadium tonight as Brisbane Roar saw off a plucky Perth Glory side 3-2.

There was very little missing from the 90 minutes including two penalties, a red card and a serious contender for Goal of the Season.

It was a special day for Massimo Murdocca who was playing his milestone 100th game for the Roar, and he was buzzing in the middle of the park as his side enjoyed the majority of the possession.

Despite their domiance, Brisbane didn’t open the scoring until four minutes before half time when striker Juan Carlos Solorzano scored from an angle at the second attempt.

The hosts doubled their lead on 58 minutes when defender Matt Smith, who was an injury doubt going into the game, scored from a corner.

Glory were handed a lifeline just after the hour when they were awarded a penalty for deliberate handball against . Robbie Fowler, who had just come onto the field as a substitute, stepped up to convert with his first touch.

However, their hope lasted less than ten minutes as Scott Neville took down Solorzano in the area and again referee Matthew Gillett pointed to the spot. Having only been booked moments earlier, Neville was given his marching orders and to add insult to injury, the Roar striker fired past Velaphi for his second of the game.

The ten men persevered and managed to find the net again with seven minutes remaining. Adriano Pellegrino picked the ball up 25 yards from goal, took a touch and fired a stunning swerving effort that gave Theoklitos no chance as it flew into the top corner.

It wasn’t to be for the West Australians though as, with 91 minutes on the clock, Josh Mitchell was shown a straight red card for a foul on Reinaldo.

Brisbane could, and probably should, have added to their three goals late on but a combination of poor finishing and superb goalkeeping from Tando Velaphi kept the score at 3-2.

Brisbane Roar: M Theoklitos, M Smith, L DeVere, I Franjic, E Paartalu, K Barbarouses, M Murdocca, J C Solorzano, M McKay, T Broich, M Susak.

Subs: A Redmayne, Reinaldo, M Mundy, M Nichols.

Perth Glory: T Velaphi, S Neville, J Coyne, N Sekulovski, T Amphlett, H Fondyke, J Burns, T Howarth, B Jelic, A Jukic.

Subs: A Vrteski, R Fowler, A Pellegrino, S McGarry.