Roar past Sydney FC in convincing away win

Brisbane Roar bounced back in convincing fashion with a 5-2 away win over Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium after suffering an unexpected defeat last week at home at the hands of the Newcastle Jets.

It was the 100^th A-League win for Brisbane Roar who were thoroughly convincing in all facets of their play.

The Roar continue to impress and clearly stamp their mark on the Hyundai A-League as the team to beat.

Sydney FC may have fielded a full strength team with Alessandro Del Piero and Brett Emerton returning to the starting line-up but it was an old boy against his former club, Dimitri Petratos, who had the biggest impact on the game with three goals.

The game started well enough for the home side when in 11^th minute a free kick by Alessandro Del Piero made its way around the wall and straight into bottom left hand corner of the net despite Michael Theo getting both hands to it.

Del Piero had won the free kick himself at the second attempt after falling clumsily at the first challenge.

In the 20^th minute a pass from Luke Brattan near halfway found Thomas Broich who calmly entered the box and slotted past the goalkeeper to equalise for the Roar.

A minute later Sebastian Ryall brought down Henrique in a clumsy challenge in box and a penalty was duly awarded. Dimitri Petratos against his old club, and looking directly into The Cove, had to take the penalty not once but twice given that his first attempt was taken before the whistle had been blown.

No problems for Petratos because he scored in exactly the same fashion with both attempts.

In the 35^th minute a great football move ended with a delightful lay off by Broich to Petratos who slammed home the finish into the top of the net. It was football at its best and the Brisbane Roar show was by now in full swing.

With Del Piero replaced at half time, a 48^th minute shot by Matt McKay was directed straight onto the post from just outside the box. It could well have been four goals there and then for the visitors.

In the 54^th minute, a header by Henrique which ended up in the back of the net after a Broich cross from the right was ruled no goal by an alert referee Ben Williams who spotted the most marginal of handballs by Henrique himself.

Sydney FC almost pulled one back in the 63^rd minute when a great shot from distance by Corey Gameiro, Del Piero’s halftime replacement, was turned around the post for a corner by Michael Theo.

A 69^th minute header from Ryall from a partially cleared free kick was headed towards goal, but was turned onto the post and then behind for a corner once again by the alert goalkeeping of Michael Theo.

Brisbane Roar’s fourth goal arrived in the 78^th minute. Nikola Petkovic pushed Broich over in the box and it was a clear penalty. No argument there from anyone as the Roar were gifted their second spot kick. Up stepped Petratos who once again made no mistake.

In the end a late goal from Ivan Franjic in the 93^rd minute, and an even later one by Richard Garcia, gave the crowd some last minute post-Christmas cheer but in the end the Brisbane Roar won by the margin that they thoroughly deserved.