Brisbane Roar's Besart Berisha controls the ball during his team's 3-1 win over Sydney FC in Brisbane. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
SOME genius from Besart Berisha and Ivan Franjic, coupled with a mistake from Alessandro Del Piero, and Sydney FC’s season will be determined by Easter weekend matches in Perth and Newcastle.
If the Glory and Jets lose against Adelaide and Western Sydney respectively, then Sydney will sneak into the finals in sixth place. But if Perth Glory draws it will claim sixth spot via a better goal difference. If Newcastle wins Sydney is gone anyway.
In contrast Brisbane players can put their feet up and enjoy a carefree holiday weekend after a commanding 3-1 win. Del Piero made up for his first-half error with a penalty in the dying minutes, but it was too late.
An entertaining game, despite the uneven scoreline, will be no consolation for Frank Farina’s players as they head south from Suncorp Stadium. They had to win the match outright or gain a draw to feel more secure.
Berisha’s goal in the 29th minute and his expert delivery to Steve Lustica in the 51st minute did the early damage. As an exclamation mark, fullback Ivan Franjic sent an angled ball across the face of goal and high into the corner in the 79th minute.
It was Berisha’s 27th goal in 27 games at his home ground and his 14th for the 2013 season. But for midfielders Lustica and Franjic it was only their second.
No guessing then why Lustica celebrated by leaping the advertising boards at the northern end of the crowd and being swallowed up in the arms of the Roar faithful. Berisha was only half-a-metre behind him so he too could enjoy some of the love.
Berisha’s strike came off superb lead-up work by Thomas Broich, who pounced on a sloppy pass by Del Piero. The Italian lazily put the ball back to no one allowing the German to run with it before crossing to an umarked Berisha in front of goalkeeper Ivan Necevski.
The uncharacteristic mistake by the seasoned international proved costly.
And it went against the grain of the Sky Blues’ attack. They had more shots on goal in the opening half than Roar. Play in both halves was concentrated in the penalty box as Sydney searched desperately for the net and Brisbane was frantic in trying to keep them out. A foul on Joel Griffiths by Roar centre back James Donachie on the edge of the penalty area, denied Brisbane a clean score sheet.
“It was a special game for us and we had good combinations tonight. We really deserved to win. I think it’s good that the champions are back in the finals,’’ Berisha said.
“We have a lot of experienced players and we know how to do it in the finals,’’ he added, when asked if Brisbane could threaten the likes of Western Sydney and Central Coast from fifth position.
Perhaps in most A-League fans eyes, Brisbane had clear favouritism anyway based on recent form and past history with Sydney.
Brisbane had home advantage, a better goal difference, and some old swagger back, so a place in the finals looked like it would take just 90 minutes.
The Roar also had dominance over its southern rivals with A-League statisticians saying it had been 2000 days since Sydney tasted victory at Suncorp – back in 2007.
Brisbane has won 15 of the last 18 games between the two clubs, although Sydney had won the most recent contest before tonight with a 2-1 win in round 20.
It was a sad return to Suncorp for former Roar coach Farina, who is now in charge of Sydney. But he was without two internationals in Brett Emerton (suspended) and Socceroos captain Lucas Neill (hamstring).
But for coach Mike Mulvey, who answered an SOS from Roar club bosses after Rado Vidosic was removed last December, it was payback time for the hard work he’s put in from round 12.
Brisbane has now conceded just three goals in seven games to show their defence is also where it should be for a finals campaign and shot at a third straight A-League title.
No comments:
Post a Comment