Brisbane Roar have taken their unbeaten streak to 17 games, defeating North Queensland Fury 2-0 at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Saturday night.
A crowd of 4,412 witnessed a Kosta Barbarouses double that sealed the Roar’s 17 game run and further cemented their place at the top of the A-League ladder.
The Roar showed their class from the start and scored in the seventh minute after Thomas Broich chipped over the top to Barbarouses who tapped the ball past challenging Fury keeper Justin Pasfield and kicked it into the back of the net.
Ivan Franjic was looking for their second not long after, his long range shot grazing the crossbar in the 13th minute.
North Queensland blew one of their rare scoring opportunities to equalise in the 27th minute with Jason Spagnuolo crossing the ball to Gareth Edds who fumbled the opportunity right in front of goal, giving an easy save to Roar keeper Michael Theoklitos.
Barbarouses had a shot saved by a diving Pasfield in the 37th minute but got the double he was looking for in the 76th minute, receiving a through ball and getting away a low shot that slid into the right corner of the net.
Brisbane coach Ange Postecoglou was more pleased with his team’s second half performance.
“The first half was scrappy. I think we got the goal early and because of the conditions we maybe tried to sort of get a cheap victory and not try too hard,” he said.
“I thought the second half wasn’t too bad. We knocked it around a little bit. They (the Fury) didn’t really have too many opportunities in the second. They tired a little bit because of their midweek fixture.”
Despite differing performances during each half, Postecoglou was happy his team secured the three points and hoped they could build on it.
“At the end of the day we got the job done up here and I think that’s the most important thing for us. We will keep building.”
North Queensland coach Franz Straka was again critical of the league’s packed schedule.
“It’s a great shame. The boys gave everything they could. If you only have two days to recover it’s not enough.”
Fury goal keeper Pasfield said the Roar’s performance perfectly illustrated why they are at the top of the ladder.
“They are a great outfit. They were just too good for us tonight.”
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Joe Lolley was outstanding for the Sky Blues, scoring a brace as Sydney FC equaled their biggest ever victory.
Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
Mathew Leckie played a pivotal part in Melbourne City claiming an 8-nil win; playing a role in several of his team's goals.
The loser of the Sydney Derby will be under immense pressure entering the final three matches of the season.
Anthony Caceres is a player with immense talent and has a fantastic work rate, broke the deadlock against the Mariners in the 74th minute.
