Brisbane Roar reign as kings of Queensland

Brisbane Roar secured the title of Queensland’s best, winning 3-0 over a defiant Gold Coast United in front of 13,425 fans at Suncorp Stadium.

Brisbane got bragging rights last time, but with coach Miron Bleiberg not afraid to wax lyrical on how they would dismantle the defending champions, it was clear United were here for nothing less than a win in the fiery M1 Derby.

Credit: Brisbane Roar

Gold Coast asserted themselves early, trying to pick up the tempo and catch the Roar napping at the back in their pass-happy style of play. And it worked, with the visitors earning the first opportunity to score.

In the 12th minute pacey Maceo Rigters galloped into the attacking third before passing it to Adama Traore on his left whose booming kick took all of Theoklitos’ weight behind the ball to stop.

But it didn’t take long for Brisbane to show their class down the opposite end minutes later.

Paul Beekmans’ foul on Henrique just inside the Gold Coast half put the Roar in prime position for some set piece magic. Erik Paartalu, unmarked in the pack, was there to make it happen, getting on the end of Thomas Broich’s free to give Brisbane the 1-0 lead.

The boys from the beach came back strongly despite trailing and were rewarded with consecutive chances that made the undefeated champs look vulnerable. A-League debutant Rigters was the man in the thick of it once again.

In the 20th minute a beautiful cross from the Dutch import down the right had Dylan MaCallister lunging for the ball. Lucky for the Brisbane ‘keeper however, his plum header spiralled away from goal to clip the woodwork. Rigters backed it up soon after, testing Theoklitos at full stretch, but the reliable ‘keeper was on song yet again.

The first half finished in uninspiring fashion – the Roar losing direction, and Gold Coast unable to convert where it counted.

But the second half saw Brisbane pick it up a notch and extend their lead through substitute Massimo Murdocca. The little man’s precise pass was rushed onto by Albanian Besart Berisha who side stepped the ‘keeper before scoring from the tightest of angles.

Mitch Nichols then took the match beyond doubt in the 78th minute when sloppy defending from United set up the midfielder for his second goal in three outings.

Gold Coast United:

MOSS, Glen. BRILLANTE, Josh. THWAITE , Michael (C). BEEKMANS, Paul.
RIGTERS, Maceo. MACALLISTER, Dylan. HALLORAN, Ben. TRAORE, Adama.
BROWN, James. JUNGSCHLAGER, Peter. MCGOWAN, Dylan.

Subs:

REES, Kristian. ROBSON. PORTER, Joel. TYSON, Jerrad.

Brisbane Roar:

THEOKLITOS, Michael. SMITH, Matt. JURMAN, Matthew. STEFANUTTO, Shane.
FRANJIC, Ivan. HENRIQUE. PAARTALU, Eric. NICHOLS, Mitch. BROICH, Thomas.
BERISHA, Besart. NAKAJIMA-FARRAN, Issey.

Subs:

MURDOCCA, Massimo. ADNAN, Sayed Mohamed. DANNING, Kofi. ACTON, Matthew.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

3 POINTS – Besart Berisha

2 POINTS – Maceo Rigters

1 POINT – Mitch Nichols