Roar make it three out of three against Phoenix

Suncorp Stadium played host to an A-League masterclass on Friday night as wonder goals from debutant Devante Clut and Luke Brattan completed a spirited comeback for Brisbane Roar against in-form Wellington Phoenix.

The enthralling encounter proved a keeper for the show reel which will highlight a mysterious touch of Wembley déjà-vu and bring about pending transfer talks with Borussia Monchengladbach.

Wellington dominated the opening stages of the first half and took a deserved lead through the league’s top scorer Stein Huysegems, only for Brisbane to preview their second half plans in a frantic five-minute spell before the break.

Huysegems’ 35th minute goal, a tap-in from a Jeremy Brockie cross-cum-shot, sparked the hosts into life as they stared at a third consecutive home loss.

Henrique showed he is no replacement for the outgoing Besart Berisha, failing to tap-in a Jack Hingert cross from point-blank range.

On the other hand, Thomas Broich can be relied upon to take the majority of the spotlight on the Roar’s foreign contingent once Berisha is gone.

His 20-metre solo effort after shrugging off two defenders with Ronaldo-esque footwork deserved better than a meeting with the crossbar.

It was all a prelude to some second-half eye candy started by 18-year-old Clut’s thunderous finish after some neat foreplay from Henrique.

Queue the Bundesliga.

It was a brilliant moment only surpassed by an Anfield great’s late goal in a Wembley FA Cup Final.

Or at least, a carbon copy of it.

Luke Brattan’s 25-metre strike six minutes from full-time was reminiscent of a certain Steven Gerrard thunderbolt against West Ham in the 2006 FA Cup Final. 

Perhaps lightning does strikes twice, especially when Brisbane debutants come into the frame.

“There’s an offer from Borussia Monchengladbach,” Roar coach Mike Mulvey said when speaking of Clut’s debut.

“My adrenaline is still going after that second half - it was fantastic and that’s what football is all about.

“Wellington Phoenix are top four material and we’ve beaten them three times this year – that’s the magnitude of this achievement.

“No-one is going to beat them for the rest of the season in New Zealand.”

Wellington coach Ernie Merrick was similarly impressed with his side’s performance, although admitted they weren't physically prepared for the conditions.

“I knew the humidity was going to take its toll in the second half – the boys were dying at half-time,” he said.

“I just felt we needed to get a lot tighter in midfield and I don’t think our strikers got the right service today.

“Even though that’s our first loss in six games, I’m still really happy with the performance, just not the result.

“We’ll meet them again in the finals and sort it out properly then.



Brisbane Roar: 1.Michael THEO, 2.Matthew SMITH (c), 3.Shane STEFANUTTO, 10.HENRIQUE, 13.Jade NORTH, 14.Diogo FERREIRA, 15.James DONACHIE, 18.Luke BRATTAN, 19.Jack HINGERT, 20.Matthew ACTON (gk), 22.Thomas BROICH, 23.Dimitri PETRATOS, 26.Corey BROWN, 28.Brandon BORRELLO, 34.Patrick THEODORE, 35.Jai INGHAM


Wellington Phoenix: 1.Glen Moss (GK), 2.Manny Muscat, 3.Reece Caira, 5.Michael Boxall, 7.Leo Bertos, 10.Stein Huysegems, 11.Jeremy Brockie, 12.Tyler Boyd, 13.Albert Riera, 14.Alex Rufer, 15.Jason Hicks, 17.Vince Lia, 18.Ben Sigmund, 20.Lewis Italiano (GK), 22.Andrew Durante (c), 24.Roy Krishna.