A classy striker lit up Suncorp Stadium in the A-League clash on Wednesday night – but unfortunately for North Queensland Fury fans, it wasn’t Robbie Fowler.
While all eyes were on the Liverpool legend, Roar talisman Sergio van Dijk stole the show, completing a classy double in the Brisbane Roar’s 2-0 win that kept their finals hopes alive.
Fowler was the obvious drawcard for the mid-week showdown between the two low-ranked teams – and it clearly worked, drawing the second biggest Brisbane Roar crowd of the season – 11,530.
But there was no prizes for guessing who was the star on Wednesday night – van Dijk.
Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek settled into the match hoping to cast his eye on the likes of Roar youngster Tommy Oar and Fury duo Daniel McBreen and David Williams ahead of Australia’s Asian Cup qualifier against Kuwait next month.
However, Verbeek would have been forgiven for only having eyes for fellow Dutchman van Dijk.
Feeding off live-wire Henrique, van Dijk caused plenty of headaches before drawing first blood in the 20th minute.
Set up by a Luke DeVere long ball, Henrique once again served as provider and van Dijk converted with a wonderful diving, one-footed effort.
And the Fury were on the rack when van Dijk latched on to a Matt McKay cross after wonderful lead-up work by Oar to make it 2-0 in the 42nd.
Off-contract van Dijk was not giving too much away on his future, despite clearly enjoying reigniting the Roar’s finals chances.
“The focus is on Saturday night against the Central Coast – we want to make something of this season,” he said.
As painful as it was for the Fury to lose after seemingly turning around their season with last round’s 1-0 win over Perth Glory, it could have been worse.
Van Dijk suffered rare bad luck when he failed to snaffle up a Michael Zullo cross in the 66th minute.
And Mitch Nichols appeared to have a golden chance to make it 3-0 when a Massimo Murdocca cross found him with just the keeper to beat in the 76th – but somehow he failed to evade Paul Henderson.
Fowler – still known as “God” by the Liverpool faithful – did have his moments but looked like he needed divine intervention to get the luckless Fury over the line on Wednesday night.
His best chance was in the 16th minute when he was found free in the box but his chip was superbly saved by a one handed Griffin McMaster effort.
Perhaps the Fury’s evening was summed up by the 20th minute goal.
With the exciting Williams down injured, play was allowed to continue as a suddenly 10-man North Queensland failed to hold out the Roar as van Dijk found the back of the net.
Fury coach Ian Ferguson was clearly furious that the game was not stopped so Williams could be replaced or treated.
Verbeek would have been a bit miffed too, seeing that the Fury youngster was robbed of showing his wares ahead of the Asian Cup qualifier.
Roar mentor Ange Postecoglou was pleased with how his side had bounced back from last round’s 1-0 loss to Adelaide United.
The return of Oar, McKay and Ivan Franjic from injury buoyed the Brisbane coach who had endured speculation about the future of the likes of van Dijk.
“We are starting to get the team I want to play,” Postecoglou said.
“I am reading plenty of things about people leaving the club but people aren’t talking about the ones that are here.
“Tommy Oar didn’t play on Saturday night (against Adelaide) – for some reason for a bloke pushing for Socceroos selection one one wanted to mention him.
“But we know what we are doing.
“I thought people saw the future of the Brisbane Roar tonight.”
Meanwhile, Ferguson was still wondering why play wasn’t stopped while Williams (hamstring) was lying on the ground ahead of the Roar’s first goal.
“It was definitely a turning point. I lose one of my better players and lose a goal at the same time,” he said.
“I thought we would be able to come on and make a substitution and he could receive treatment.
“But still it was bad defending once again from us.”
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