By Laine Clark
January 31st 2010 @ 2:33am
Related coverage
Roar stay alive as they dent Sydney’s title aspirations
Brisbane re-ignited their A-League finals aspirations and ruined Sydney’s chance to move back into first place following a 1-0 win at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
The night seemed destined to end in frustration for the Roar until the 88th minute, when a shot from Luke DeVere deflected off Sergio van Dijk to give the Queensland club their first win since December 19.
The result lifted Brisbane to 30 points, just three behind sixth-placed Perth with two rounds remaining, while the sky blues missed the opportunity to leapfrog Melbourne and the Gold Coast back into first place.
The match ended up being a harrowing experience for Dutch great Patrick Kluivert, who is having a coaching crash course with the Roar.
The A-League may be a long way from the bright lights of European football, but in the first game of his two-week stopover, Kluivert watched Brisbane mentor Ange Postecoglou run the full gamut of emotions before his side clinched the victory.
At times Kluivert, Holland’s all-time leading scorer, was up on his feet in sympathy with Postecoglou as the battling Roar threw everything at the title contenders until they finally broke through.
For long periods the Roar couldn’t take a trick, as summed up by a 29th minute incident.
Sydney FC keeper Clint Bolton appeared lucky to stay on the field after replays indicated he handled outside the area as he tried to blunt a Reinaldo raid.
Postecoglou was filthy, kicking a water bottle under his sideline chair in frustration as Kluivert looked on.
But the Roar coach had no complaints in the 88th minute when van Dijk notched his 13th goal of the season to notch their first win in five games and keep Brisbane’s finals hopes alive.
The goal had Kluivert joining Postecoglou on his feet along with the majority of the 8,613-strong crowd.
Kluivert, 33, arrived in Brisbane on Saturday morning for his fortnight stint ahead of a reported stay under Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan.
And Postecoglou needed all the help he could get – boasting only four wins from 14 games since talking over in October.
It was the end of another eventful week for Postecoglou with outspoken veteran Danny Tiatto officially being cut with the Roar, joining the likes of Craig Moore, Charlie Miller and Liam Reddy to have left since the new coach’s arrival.
A clearly devastated Sydney FC captain Steve Corica felt the better team lost.
“I think we were the better team tonight,” he said.
“We had our chances and really we should have wrapped it up by halftime.
“But we get on with it – we know have two very important games at home.”
Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka was also left ruing the one that got away.
“Football is cruel but fair. They punished us a couple of minutes from the end, but Sydney players worked hard,” he said.
“There is trouble for us in this moment but they did not give up.”
Sydney FC’s chances of reclaiming top spot are helped by the draw – their remaining regular season games are at home, against Perth and defending champs Melbourne.
Meanwhile, Postecoglou was happy to keep his side’s slim finals hopes alive, but said there was another motivating factor behind the team.
“I spoke to the players about giving the fans something,” he said.
“Obviously we have been through a pretty tough season (and) it was our last home game so I was pretty keen for us to at least give them something.
“Hopefully some of them went home tonight happy and maybe forgot about some of the troubles we have been through.”
Postecoglou credited ‘keeper Matt Ham – who repelled a Corica-inspired Sydney FC – and exciting youngster Michael Zullo for the gutsy victory.
Get Australia's best Football opinion emailed daily.
Like this content? Buzz it up!
Free Email updates:
Our daily emails are only sent if there is content for the sport or that author. You can subscribe to multiple daily emails; or get the daily Roar email with all our content in it. We value privacy. More...
(6)
MV Dave said | January 31st 2010 @ 6:28am | Report comment
Well done BR there looks to be some hope for your team next season. Thanks for giving MV a huge boost in our chances to win the Premiers Plate…the last game at SFC looks to be a winner takes all.
Interesting round so far with all the home teams winning 1-0 including Wellington Phoenix playing in Christchurch ? drawing a record crowd of 20,000.
The Fury were beaten by a cyclone and it means the NJs will have to play a crucial midweek catch up game in the last 2 weeks of the season. Maybe just gives the Phoenix a big chance of finishing 4th and a home final.
Australian Football said | January 31st 2010 @ 8:53am | Report comment
hah what a finish MVDave—–interesting strategy employed by SFC’s Lavika to lose against the BR to give the Scottish One a sweet and bitter taste right up to the end. For Melb Vic to be marginally on top for a couple of weeks, then to have it cruelly taken away in the last game in front of what will be a record home gate for SFC.. No doubt an extra monetary bonus strategy for himself at the end of the season given to him from Fox TV..
~~~~~~~~
AF
Footbal Person said | January 31st 2010 @ 10:02am | Report comment
well i still don’t think were gonna make the finals but its good to once again show our dominence of the sky blues.
and whatever you do Melbourne DO NOT let Goldcoast touch the plate, if they do, the’ll never shut up.
ItsCalledFootball said | January 31st 2010 @ 1:24pm | Report comment
Gold Coast United look favourite to win the Premiership for me – they have the 2 easiest games and MV must win both their games including a win away at the SFS against SFC (predict a draw).
GCU play Wellington (h) and Fury (a)
Melbourne play Fury (h) and SFC (a)
SFC play PG (h) and MV (h)
SFC have 2 home games left, but even if they win both, they need GC and MV to slip up – still its getting very exciting and plenty of interest again at the business end.
I haven’t completely given up yet on SFC winning their first premiership, but we need WP or Fury to beat the Gold Coast and set up the premiership decider at the SFS.
Roar Fan said | February 1st 2010 @ 2:32pm | Report comment
The crowd were going nuts very save by Ham was cheered like it was a goal, what a game……….. then the 88min, it like you forget the whole season in 90mins. Aloisi was pathetic…….
Towser said | February 1st 2010 @ 3:49pm | Report comment
Gave up this season for the Roar a while back as events under Ange indicate building for next season. Of the new players Collen looks a possibility,Bryce not convincing. Whatever, he’ll never acheive with Reinaldo & needs creativity in midfield & if SVD kept players who know how to feed him. He’s never going to run far,but can score given space.
Half chances for the Roar never clear cut. PUt some of it down to the The Mckay/Murdocca combo. Plenty of energy no creativity. Sarota & Oar works in progress. Personally I feel a move for Tommy is to early. Dont want another David Willliams repeat for the lad.
Ham been impressive so far & with Redmayne coming in,goalkeeping should be OK.
Heres my own take on the Roar having missed 3 games in 5 years.
The Roar have stuffed up severely in the past on & off the field,quite simply because they never had a forward plan for a football club. Old owners were amateurs who thought they were professional. Their origins put off many in the Brisbane football community from word go.
Miron to Frank not much difference. Ribot(chairman) didnt get on apparently with Oudendyk(CEO) Ribot left & so did many back room staff. Then LO probably realised his rowing boat was sinking & jumped ship.
New Owners Coffee club & Luxury paints new CEO & chairman, the big Bomber Bombolas The guy who when I went to see a celebration of the Socceroos acheivements in the Queen st Mall representing the QLD government, thanked them briefly then started waxing lyrical about the Broncos winning the premiership that year. His appointment didnt inspire me then with confidence in that he knew anything about football. No experience from anybody it appeared in running a football club,relying on Frank. Fatal error, Captain Frank pissed,the lads realise the new Captain wont drink with them after scrubbing the decks. Crew abandons ship.
Whats more it was obvious Roar fans were losing patience with the club & they massively hike ticket prices. Sorry the meat is rotting .but what the hell we’ll double the price anyway. Oh & of course the legacy of a pathetic home win record.
So is their light on the horizon? I believe there is. I see signs that to me a football club is emerging.
First the coach is laying his job on the line. His clean out of experienced players says its my way or the highway. But if I get it wrong,I’ll be the first one driving away.
Second they have a football Manager. He was instrumental in bringing Kluivert for the next 2 weeks.
Third they are trying to communicate more effectively with the local football community.
http://pine-rivers-press.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/roar-puts-in-the-silver-boot/
Sroll down a fraction on this one
http://paper.questnews.com.au/QST_RBH/rbh073.pdf
Also this from a local football club site.
“Roar’s Orange Army Junior Brigade and Roary are definitely coming tonight as is Roar player, Adam Sarota!
They will be inviting our players to sign up to the free Roar Kids Club and receive a free set of Roar Dog Tags and a free can of Solo! ”
This is to Junior training. I imagine theyll be at as many clubs as possible.
Bottom line is though,performance on the field & a review of ticket prices for next season.