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Brisbane Roar claim record with dagger to Hearts

Roar Rookie
29th January, 2011
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Brisbane Roar have broken the record for the longest unbeaten streak in Australian domestic soccer with a deserved 2-1 victory over Melbourne Heart at Skilled Park.

The Roar’s remarkable undefeated run now stretches to 23 matches, with their only loss of the season coming against Melbourne Victory on September 12, taking them past Apia-Leichhardt’s previous record set in 1986-87.

Brisbane will claim the Premiers Plate if Central Coast fail to pick up any points in their clash with Adelaide United in the later A-League match on Saturday night.

It was a goal to golden boy James Meyer which handed the Roar a crucial 2-0 advantage in the 63rd minute.

Meyer, in his first starting game for the Roar following a quads injury to Massimo Murdocca, ran onto a ball from German Thomas Broich, who turned 30 on Saturday, and nailed his fourth goal from his past three matches.

It could have been a hiding if Brisbane’s strike weapon Kosta Barbarouses had put away three gilt-edged scoring opportunities in the second half before he was replaced by Henrique in the 74th minute.

With Suncorp Stadium out of action due to the floods, the Roar were again forced to showcase their tricks on a patchy Skilled Park surface on the Gold Coast in front of 4,213 fans.

The uneven turf did little to stifle their creativity and slick ball movement, with Costa Rican striker Jean Carlos Solorzano’s pace and footwork a constant threat to the Heart defence.

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Brisbane grabbed the lead in the fifth minute when Solorzano outsprinted Heart skipper Simon Colosimo to the ball just outside the box and then calmly slotted past goalkeeper Clint Bolton.

The Heart, who needed a win to keep alive their top six chances, never really looked like scoring until striker John Aloisi held up the ball nicely and laid off for Dutchman Gerald Sibon, who slammed home a 75th minute goal.

An unmarked Aloisi, easily the Heart’s best player, had a late chance to snatch a draw but kicked straight to Roar keeper Michael Theoklitos, who was making his 100th A-League appearance.

The Roar made two enforced changes to the line-up which defeated Wellington Phoenix 2-0 on Wednesday, with Luke DeVere leaving for South Korean outfit Gyeongnam FC and the injured Murdocca a late withdrawal.

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