A week is a long time in football, even for defending A-League champions Brisbane who five days ago appeared seemingly invincible.
First-half goals to Argentinian Jonatan Germano (13th minute) and teenager Eli Babalj (27th minute) gave Melbourne Heart a 2-1 victory that sent Brisbane crashing to rare back-to-back losses.
Heart took the points, but not before Brisbane threatened another of their stunning comebacks after its best player Mitch Nicholls scrambled a 77th minute goal to test Heart’s nerve at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Brisbane’s grand final hero Erik Paartalu and most of the 10,667 fans could not believe he missed a simple header in the second minute of injury time to level at 2-2 after a clever free kick from Besart Berisha.
Last Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Sydney FC ended Brisbane’s record 36-game streak and Friday night’s shock defeat at Suncorp Stadium, their first home loss since January 2010, has suddenly raised some questions.
For the second game in a row Brisbane played without classy German import Thomas Broich, who was ruled out with a heel injury and remains in doubt for Wednesday night’s clash with Wellington Phoenix.
A third loss in New Zealand in five days would see the Roar return home on Saturday night for a grand final re-match with Central Coast fighting to avoid equalling the club’s worst losing streak of four in a row in November 2006.
The game’s opening goal came off the head of Germano, who celebrated his 11th goal of the season by pulling a red Santa hat from his shorts and celebrating in front of Roar fans.
Referee Kris Griffith Jones didn’t share Germano’s cheer, booking him with a yellow card.
The visitors then constructed one of the best goals scored at Suncorp Stadium in some time.
Dutch import Rutger Worm’s vision found Germano lurking in behind Roar’s defence and a quick one-two play between Mate Dugandzic and Babalj had Brisbane down 2-0 for the second time in five days.
Brisbane fans, who’ve enjoyed a golden run of 23 months without a loss, uncharacteristically booed their team off the pitch at halftime.
© AAP 2012Recommend this story.
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December 10th 2011 @ 8:06am
pete4 said | December 10th 2011 @ 8:06am | Report comment
Is it a case of no Broich no Brisbane now?
December 10th 2011 @ 8:27am
The Cattery said | December 10th 2011 @ 8:27am | Report comment
The Heart came with a very clear and simple game plan, which became apparent inside the first few minutes, but for the whole of the first half, Ange and his charges appeared powerless to neutralise it.
However, talk of record losing streaks is a bit premature.
December 10th 2011 @ 8:27am
Qantas supports Australian Football said | December 10th 2011 @ 8:27am | Report comment
Roar fans booed their team off the field at half time?—Amazing!
December 10th 2011 @ 11:06am
Kasey said | December 10th 2011 @ 11:06am | Report comment
I think they were booing the ref. Its easy to fall into the trap of blaming the official when things aren’t going your way, especially of you are used to it. I think the tall poppy syndrome had a lot of fans pulling for Heart last night. Their second goal was very well worked and perhaps a sign of the style of football they aspired to from the get-go(If you remember their original mision statements etc). I think the Heart could do very well this season, assuming they don’t get cut don by injuries kater onin the season. From the opening game of the season v Newcastle(IIRC?), they’ve looked to play open attacking free-flowing football and I find it compelling viewing.
December 10th 2011 @ 11:55am
Qantas supports Australian Football said | December 10th 2011 @ 11:55am | Report comment
Kasey—-Just going on this report by the author—I didn’t watch the game, but they are missing Broich as it seems. Could they be a one man team? Doesn’t’ look good—if Broich gets a season ending injury maybe the rest of the pack will close the gap.
December 10th 2011 @ 11:22am
bart said | December 10th 2011 @ 11:22am | Report comment
being at the game no-one booed the team, the ref got some abuse (but not much), the Roar boys had all the support. They will be back.
December 11th 2011 @ 11:39am
Roon said | December 11th 2011 @ 11:39am | Report comment
Nah, it was for the officials, and that prat with the xmas hat. Then for the turf-sniffing Heart divers from just before 50 mins onwards. Finally, when the ref failed to arrest the opposition close-up pitch inspections, slowing tactics and that linesman that couldn’t keep up with play, the crowd went nuts until the end.
The Roar players came down to the Northern end after the game to acknowledge the crowd and got a big round of applause.
December 10th 2011 @ 9:15am
haaybails said | December 10th 2011 @ 9:15am | Report comment
I’m sorry, I did not see the game but if it is as you say… Who needs fans like that? disgusting.
December 10th 2011 @ 9:49am
Realfootball said | December 10th 2011 @ 9:49am | Report comment
Mitch Nichols, Brisbane’s “best player”. What game were you watching?? I was in the stands and lNichols was very poor last night, bordering on awful. Completely off the pace. What an absurd statement.
THE BOOING WAS NOT DIRECTED AT THE ROAR TEAM – they were for the referee, rightly, and for the Heart players who were going down to time waste with the regularity of a metronome. AND THE BOOING WAS AT FULLTIME, not half time.
What a poor piece of reporting.
It was a long, long 2.5 hours home from Suncorp last night. Brisbane were as bad up to 60 minutes as I have ever seen them play. A couple of salient points:
1. The A-League has, sadly, left Murdocca behind. He is simply isn’t up to the current standard.
2. N-Farran does the best headless chook impression I have seen and it’s doubtful he’s ever worth a bench spot.
3. A way must be found for Danning to start – apart from Broich and (sometimes) Henrique, he is the Roar’s only X factor player.
4. Ange is fallible – with a team playing like that and 2 nil down, to leave his subs til 63 minutes is ridiculous. Another 10 minutes on the park for Danning and Visconte, and Brisbane would certainly not have lost.
5. Brisbane can lose either McKay or Broich but not both if they want to be competitive. Ange urgently needs another quality midfielder.
6. If Brisbane play like they did against Sydney and for the first 60 last night, they will ship 7 goals against a good J League side.
7. Ange needs to work on some tactical variation. Brisbane are way too predictable. Opposing teams now simply shut down the near post and take Berisha out of the game. Get another striker, FFS. There needs to be an option to go to 2 strikers.
8. Well done the Heart. They are a waaay better team than Victory, and will be a genuine contender this season.
December 10th 2011 @ 11:01am
j binnie said | December 10th 2011 @ 11:01am | Report comment
For the third game in a row Roar have had a lesson taught them. Thompson,Petatros and last night Babalj & Germano have all found the weak spot in Roar’s system,that indeterminate area right in front of goal where there is a definite “hole” when the team is being pressed.At the moment this is not a hugely serious problem for in those 3 games the team has only conceded 6 goals but managing to score 4 thus keeping them within striking distance.So what is causing this anomaly in a team that 5 weeks ago was seen as a machine?. Not too much but nevertheless the lessons to be learned should be adhered to,and quickly,if the momentum has to be regained. Let’s look objectively at the Roar team with it’s strengths & weaknesses.
Other teams are employing “pressing” tactics cutting down on the time and space available to the people who make the Roar’s passing game tick over. Paartlu is being forced back further and further so that the link from his normally excellent passing is limiting service to the front line .That raises the question, how can this pressure be taken off Eric who is expected to also supply a screen in front of the 2 central defenders.Eric is not the most mobile of players so one or the other of these duties has to suffer.At the moment it is that link with the forwards.
Getting men behind the ball is another part of the “pressing ” game and last night’s team selection did little to “attack ” that tactic. The Roar build up was far to slow to cause any problems for the retreating defence and it was not until the introduction of Danning’s pace that cracks began to appear and chances created.Issy is most definitely not a winger in that vein and is wasted out wide while the “lone ranger” up front is running his backside off trying to generate chances for others who should be doing that for him.
Is there a cure?
Sure there is. Brioch is missed for his guile but Roar are a very fit team and should manage without him by “tweaking” their system. First of all the “hole” has to be filled and the introduction of Adman would do this immediately with the very mobile Smith orchestrating attacks from behind but never getting caught man on man. With this extra man at the back Paartlu could afford to push harder up field adding his talents to a poorly performing midfield.Adman has also shown a talent for going forward but his passing is infinitely better than Jurman’s who did this on numerous occasions last night so that too would help the “link” to the front men.
Up front is another story.They have one recognised goalscorer and he is being picked up by at least 2 defenders at all times.Changes have to be made to help this guy and if Danning can be “programmed” in how to use his pace and strength in the most effective manner he would help. Issey and Nichols don’t play well together,this is not unusual , but the Canadian did bag 2 goals when Mitch was away so could he, or Mitch, play tighter with the front man? Or could Meyer”s height and strength be used to take the pressure up front letting the more mobile Berisha feed off him.These are all imponderables but Ange has to recognise the fact that other teams are learning how to “get at” Roar’s system and unfortunately Roar do not yet have a Messi or Renaldo to breakdown the opposition, so ,the system, successful up to now, has to be amended,either by using different players,or altering the “layout” of the present structure. Not difficult just a little thought and the willingness to learn from mistakes. jb
December 10th 2011 @ 2:50pm
Qantas supports Australian Football said | December 10th 2011 @ 2:50pm | Report comment
JB—-Danning was an exciting prospect when he was first signed for SFC. However, he failed to live up to his promise. Now he has made a clean break from SFC and a fresh start at the Roar, Ange has not given him a real role to play. I don’t think Danning will go much further than he has. He is much like Minniecon an exciting natural talented footballer, but no confidence in trying to make the game his when he is on the park.
December 10th 2011 @ 6:33pm
Stevo said | December 10th 2011 @ 6:33pm | Report comment
jb, have you got a kind word for Maycon (as a footballer) because I haven’t.
December 10th 2011 @ 11:15am
The Bear said | December 10th 2011 @ 11:15am | Report comment
Jbinnie and realfootball thanks for setting the story straight. Ange take a read. . . Enlightening stuff.
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December 11th 2011 @ 7:22pm
j binnie said | December 11th 2011 @ 7:22pm | Report comment
The Bear – Looks like someone may have read the above articles but not at Roar ,at GCU’ They fronted against Sydney with 3 centre backs and it quite amused me to hear the term “libero” used again when describing their captain’s role at the back.Was the move successful? I think Sydney created 3 or 4 good chances in 90 minutes but the score remained at no goals against so obviously the move paid off for the coaching staff.???????jb
December 10th 2011 @ 11:18am
Peter Wilson said | December 10th 2011 @ 11:18am | Report comment
Great game and really enjoyed it.
After wanting someone to start beating the Roar and make the competition less one sided I’m starting to feel sorry for the Roar and their losing streak.
The Roar are definitely a better team with Brioch and shows the value of the guy to the team. He should be back next week and give them a needed lift.
Its not just a matter of the Roar playing badly, there were some great passages where SFC and Heart played some very good football and it is also a case of the other teams lifting the standard.
You only play as well as the other team lets you and the Roar aren’t given the space they used to get – no way.
I don’t think I’ve seen a bad A-League game yet this season, especially with Roar playing in it and that seems to be reflected in a 76% rise in TV ratings and media coverage.
December 10th 2011 @ 1:55pm
Realfootball said | December 10th 2011 @ 1:55pm | Report comment
Agree. It’s been rivetting stuff. Long may it continue, along with the ratings.
December 10th 2011 @ 12:06pm
PeterK said | December 10th 2011 @ 12:06pm | Report comment
Clearly the difference between winning by a goal and losing by a goal is not at all great. How many games of Roar’s streak were won by more than one goal? How many of Heart’s games this season have been lost by more than one goal?
And it’s great that Ange has to rethink BEFORE he travels to Asia rather than after! We do want Roar to do well there.
December 10th 2011 @ 12:54pm
Roger said | December 10th 2011 @ 12:54pm | Report comment
Omg, it’s all over. Roar have lost two games now in a row.
Worst. Team. Ever. Sack the coach.
Or maybe, just maybe, Heart are playing really well this season, and getting better.
December 11th 2011 @ 12:57pm
PeterK said | December 11th 2011 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
Roger, I believe Heart have been playing well all season, and have missed a bit of luck here and there.