Sunday, March 24, 2013

Broich's rare strike gives Roar a sniff - The Australian



THOMAS Broich sure can pick his moment. Brisbane Roar was running out of games to force its way into the finals and needed goals. Broich obliged by sending a cracking shot high into the corner of the Melbourne Heart goal from 25m to secure a vital 2-0 win.



The German had scored only once before this season -- in round two, 24 matches ago.


But his clean strike put the Roar up 2-0 and became the exclamation point after teammate Besart Berisha's goal in the 10th minute -- his 13th this year but only his first in the past five games as Roar became engaged in a top-six dance with Sydney FC, Perth and Newcastle.


Roar started yesterday's match at Suncorp Stadium in eighth place. By the end of it they were in fifth, taking Sydney FC's spot because of a better goal average.


It is the lack of goals from such quality strikers as Besart -- last year's golden boot winner -- and Broich that has added to Brisbane's frustrations all season.


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The pair hugged in a warm embrace after the match, realising what their combined talent and touches had achieved. It was about time. Brisbane, as two-time premiers, had only netted four goals from the past six matches.


But last night's win has given them a little breathing space, if only for four days. Brisbane faces Alessandro Del Piero's Sydney FC back at Suncorp on Thursday night, where Sydney, Perth Glory, Newcastle Jets and the Roar have one point separating them to secure a spot in the finals.


The fans wanted the win as much as the players, although only 9869 turned up. There was a casualty in the northeast corner of the ground before kick-off when medical staff had to help a drummer who had dislocated his shoulder by hitting his instrument too enthusiastically. The half-time lead should have been higher. Roar had eight shots at goal to Heart's two, which was indicative of the 61 per cent of possession the home side enjoyed. In the second term they had another 11 attempts.


But Heart goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne showed plenty of ticker in stopping two Broich attempts within six minutes midway through the first half and then pushing a Mitch Nichols nick over the crossbar.


In contrast, Michael Theo was hardly kept busy. His only save of the game came in the 94th minute.


Both sides had to deal with Mother Nature as well as each other. The game started in sunny 31C heat and high humidity but the lights came on at half-time as dark thunder clouds moved in.


It was probably the heavens showing some empathy with Heart players. They had beaten Roar twice already in the 2013 season -- 4-1 in round six and then 3-2 in round 15.


They were trying to add to their solitary finals appearance last season, losing to Glory. Heart needed the full three points yesterday as a draw was not enough.


To be fair, John Aloisi's side was without four seasoned players in Simon Colosimo (suspension), Fred (quad strain), Jonatan Germano (hamstring injury) and Patrick Gerhardt (on World Cup qualifier duties with Liberia against Uganda). However, Roar has been without captain Matt Smith (hip surgery) for two months, and lost Socceroos centre Jade North yesterday.


The two clubs couldn't be split over their A-League history. They had met eight times before yesterday with three wins apiece and two draws. Heart will now say its season farewell playing the Central Coast in Gosford on Saturday.


BRISBANE ROAR 2 (Besart Berisha 12m pen, Thomas Broich 31m) MELBOURNE HEART 0 at Suncorp Stadium. Crowd: 9869. Referee: Matthew Gillett.



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