By Hannibal Rossi
November 7th 2009 @ 3:50am
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Brisbane rock Adelaide United to end the drought
Two goals from striker Sergio Van Dijk and a crucial penalty save from Griffin McMaster have revived Brisbane’s season after the Roar clinched their first win in six matches with a 2-0 upset of Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium.
Van Dijk stroked home a controversial spot kick in the 35th minute and then bagged his seventh goal of the season in the 51st with an emphatic finish with his left foot.
But goalkeeper Griffin McMaster proved just as vital to ensure the Roar’s first win since September 27, swatting away a 70th minute penalty kick by Lloyd Owusu as well as making a handful of other critical saves to keep United at bay in front of 11,209 fans.
The first win under new coach Ange Postecoglou since replacing sacked Frank Farina propelled the Roar from ninth on the ladder to seventh, pushing ahead of United on percentage.
United dominated for long periods but couldn’t find the finishing touch and paid the price, slumping to their third home loss this season.
Adelaide had looked more purposeful for much of the first half but found it hard to penetrate the Brisbane defence marshalled by Socceroo Craig Moore until captain Travis Dodd carved out a golden chance for striker Cristiano in the 26th minute.
The speedy Reds’ captain cut through the midfield and passed to the unmarked Brazilian on the penalty spot only for Roar keeper Griffin McMaster to charge out and just block his shot.
A minute later McMaster excelled again, diving low at full stretch to his left to palm away a fierce drive from Alemao round his post for a corner.
The next Adelaide player to be denied by McMaster was defender Robert Cornthwaite who launched a downward header which the keeper tipped over his crossbar at the second attempt.
But then Reinaldo put Adelaide on the backfoot when he won the penalty on a rare Roar breakaway and van Dijk inflicted further pain on the Reds when he curled in a searing shot into the top corner just after half time from a David Dodd pass.
Dodd fired a cross in 69th minute as Adelaide surged again and it struck Luke Devere’s arm and Zetter awarded the second penalty of the game.
But McMaster pushed the low kick onto the post and away to ensure victory.
Earlier in the second half Mitch Nicholls had appeared to net another Roar goal with the ball crossing the line off the underside of the crossbar.
But referee Craig Zetter and other officials were unsighted and waved play on.
Desperation was the key to the Roar’s win said Postecoglou, still staring back at a lengthy injury list and some senior players barely able to see out matches.
“It’s a good feeling for the club and the players,” he said.
“We were just more desperate tonight.
“We defended well, we absorbed some pressure when we needed to.” He said he had stressed the importance of getting that first goal the whole week.
“That goal lifted us. Hopefully for us, that’s the end of our bad trot,” said Postecoglou.
“We want to get amongst it now and be part of the action come finals time.”
McMaster said the difference in finally grabbing that elusive win was that everyone worked hard.
“We’ve got to do it every week,” he said.
“I think the penalty save really deflated Adelaide.”
Adelaide coach Aurelio Vidmar said his side had worked hard but simply failed to take chances again.
“It’s frustrating as hell to be honest,” he said.
“They (the players) absolutely put the effort in tonight.
“But we’re not putting the goals away.
“I still thought we’d come out on top at half time. But that second goal was a dagger in the heart.”
Vidmar said his side lacked a little luck and a little quality in finishing.
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