Roar upset Adelaide at Coopers

Brisbane Roar has continued the resurrection of its season by rolling Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium with a 1-0 victory on Saturday night courtesy of a cracking Henrique strike within the first 20 minutes. But the victory may have come at a cost for the reigning champions as the Brazilian striker had to come off injured a short time later.

The Roar took the lead in the 18^th minute when Henrique smashed a delightful lofted drive into the top corner of the Adelaide goal after spotting Eugene Galekovic off his line. The strike was the stuff of the highlights reel and took his goal tally to seven for the season.

The Brazilian goal glutton had to be taken off in the 40^th minute though after failing to recover from a nasty ankle clip from Michael Marrone. Having been looked at by the physios Henrique returned to the pitch but didn’t appear to be in any sort of comfort. The injury is a major concern for the reigning champions, who are already without marquee striker Thomas Broich.

For the home side it was a performance to forget as Josep Gombau’s boys continued to make uncharacteristic errors in every part of the pitch. Game day inclusion Michael Marrone missed clearances, midfielders Jimmy Jeggo, Pablo Sanchez and Isaias constantly gave to ball away and Sergio Cirio and Fabio Ferreira hit almost all of their crosses straight at Brisbane gloveman Jamie Young.

The mistakes were compounded in both halves as a turnover allowed Brisbane’s Dimi Petratos to get through on goal and hit the post in the 25^th minute, and in the 88^th Sanchez was one-on-one with Young only hit the ball straight at him with no impetus whatsoever.

Perhaps it was all doomed before play even started though, as Adelaide lined up without regular starter Nigel Boogaard at centre back and playmaker supreme Marcelo Carrusca in the centre, who both picked up minor injuries before the match.

Credit must go where it’s due though, and the Brisbane Roar faithful will be thrilled with the victory as their club’s disastrous start to the season continues to be arrested at the hands of Frans Thijssen.

Adelaide boss Josep Gombau was bitterly disappointed with the loss but stressed that it’s isolated, saying his team’s season is still very much on track and that they are focused on the impending FFA Cup final next week.

“We didn’t find our positions, and in build-up and the way we play from the back we didn’t find [our targets] with passes,” Gombau said.

“In the end it is football and you can’t expect to win every game you play.

“We are professionals and tomorrow we will start to prepare of our next game… we will check our mistakes and improve from our mistakes,” he said.

Roar boss Frans Thijssen was a much happier figure and said that the performance was a sign that his team is on the right track, despite its inability to string consistent wins together.

“In the first half we could have been two or three goals up,” Thijssen said.

“I’m happy with the win, and what we lost last week… we got back today.

“Overall, I am quite happy with the points we’ve got now and we’ve still got a good team, but we can still improve,” he said.

Adelaide’s next tie is against Perth Glory on Tuesday night in the FFA Cup final at Coopers Stadium, while Brisbane enjoys a fortnight off before playing the Central Coast Mariners on Saturday 27 December.

Adelaide United: Eugene Galekovic (C) (GK), Michael Marrone, Dylan McGowan, Pablo Sanchez, Isaias, Sergio Cirio, Bruce Djite, Craig Goodwin, Jimmy Jeggo (Cameron Watson 77’), Tarek Elrich, Fabio Ferreira (Awer Mabil 67’)

Unused substitutes: Benjamin Warland, Bruce Kamau, John Hall

Brisbane Roar: Jamie Young (GK), Corey Brown, Steven Lustica, Henrique (Borello 35’), Jean Carlos Solorzano (Matthew Smith 90’), Jade North, Daniel Bowles, James Donachie, Matthew McKay (C), Luke Brattan, Dimitri Petratos (Adam Sarota 79’)

Unused substitutes: Mensur Kurtisi, Matthew Acton