The A-League is alive! Caution has been dispensed and players with attacking prowess have gone bonkers.
The break during the Asian Cup helped a number of clubs regain momentum this season, and the resulting attacking force has defenders and goalkeepers running for cover.
Familiar names appear on the scoresheet: Marc Janko, Shane Smeltz, Besart Berisha and… Brandon Borrello?
The new kid on the block has flourished since the resumption of the club football. Appearing on the right side of attack in Brisbane Roar’s 4-3-3 formation, the 19-year-old has found himself right in the middle of Roar’s transition in style under interim coach Frans Thijssen.
Borrello’s exciting attacking potential appeared in Brisbane’s first game back after the break against Wellington Phoenix. His goal was Brisbane’s second in a 3-2 win, a well-taken finish off a deft through-ball by Thomas Broich.
This was the first time we were awoken to Borrello’s speed and composure in front of goal.
Brisbane kept getting the job done against league strugglers Newcastle and Central Coast in two routine but forgettable games. They lost at the death to Beijing in the Asian Champions League, and then came a 2-2 draw in Perth in which Borrello assisted the Roar’s first goal.
After that came a gruelling 10-hour flight from Perth to Japan to play Urawa Red Diamonds. After losing in their previous ACL game, Brisbane knew they would have to take something from this match, and a 1-0 win saw them taking three points home with them.
As for the goal, it came via an early strike from – who else – Borrello. Fed through by Broich, he shot from an acute angle, beating the keeper at his near post.
After the ACL win Brisbane came back to the A-Leauge to face fellow ACL participants Western Sydney Wanderers. Borrello now had well and truly thrust himself into the spotlight, and again he delivered. A quick interchange of passes on the wing allowed him to cut into the box – a bobble, a deflection, a neat touch past the defender and a cooly executed finish.
Brisbane were up 1-0 thanks to Borrello and that’s how the game ended.
Perhaps due to him starting every game since the break, he was left out of the starting XI against Sydney FC last Sunday. In a game which blew the A-League record book to pieces, the Sky Blues won 5-4.
After entering the match on the hour mark, Borrello’s smart running and persistent pressure gave the Sydney defenders problems. As Brisbane were facing a mauling, Borrello went down the wing, cut inside, turned his defender, and put a cool, low ball to the edge of the penalty area for Steven Lustica to convert. 4-3.
His second major contribution of the game was at 5-3, Sydney having scored another to put the game to bed. Borrello again cut inside from his wing into the penalty area, his cross went loose, two Sydney defenders comically swung at the ball, and it bounced for Brisbane to score again, 5-4.
Even with only 30 minutes left and his team being smashed on the scoresheet Borrello’s intelligent runs and interchanging of passing breathed life into Brisbane. He was a major factor in the team fighting until the end.
Brandon Borrello has shown since the Asian Cup break that he is a talent to be taken seriously. His natural talent to attack and cut inside off his wing as helped Brisbane immeasurably, bringing them back into finals contention.
At 19 he has his whole career ahead of him, and based on the flashes of brilliance we have seen it is going in the right direction.
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