Front-runners Brisbane became the first A-League team to reach 100 victories and did it in commanding style on Boxing Day with a 5-2 drubbing of Sydney FC.
Skipper Alessandro Del Piero broke the deadlock on Thursday night but the Sky Blues conceded two penalties to help Dimitri Petratos to a hat-trick.
Thomas Broich and Ivan Franjic rounded out the scoring for Brisbane before Richard Garcia got one back in the dying minutes at Allianz Stadium.
With the average age of 30 it was the oldest team Sydney have ever fielded and it showed.
The Roar dominated play from the get go with their attacking, passing football providing a stark contrast to a sluggish looking Sydney who lacked any real fire-power up front.
Del Piero and fellow veteran Brett Emerton were both back after missing last week’s loss to Wellington.
And 39-year-old Del Piero again proved the difference for the Sky Blues.
Roar defender Jade North conceded a free-kick after bringing down Del Piero just outside the box and the Italian made no mistake, his inch-perfect strike beating the wall and out-stretched keeper Michael Theo to put the hosts in front in the 11th minute.
But Brisbane playmaker Broich found the equaliser just nine minutes later with a great strike, timing his run to perfection to get on the end of a superb through-ball from Luke Brattan.
Sebastian Ryall then gifted the Roar a penalty a moment later with a foul on Henrique in the box.
Petratos, in his first start against his former club, stepped up to the mark and slotted home but was forced to re-take the penalty kick.
His second attempt was no different, too good for keeper Vedran Janjetovic, to put the visitors in front 2-1 in the 23rd minute.
Petratos got his second of the game in the 35th minute, courtesy of great lead-up work from Broich, to send the visitors to the break 3-1 up.
The Roar looked to have gone 4-1 up early in the second half when Henrique headed home but the goal was disallowed with the referee picking up the Brazilian’s handball.
The Roar were awarded another penalty in the 77th minute when Nikola Petkovic charged at Broich in the box, with Petratos netting from the spot to get his treble.
Franjic put the final nail in the coffin with with his extra-time strike before Garcia got one back just before the final whistle.
Ian
Guest
I can't get over ( well I will get over it), Theo jumping over Broich to get that ball. There was another Roar player next to him and no SFC player was going to get the ball. I honestly thought we deserved 5 goals, and 5-1 I was happy with. It was another meltdown from Theo. If that was done in a game in the balance he'd be lynched.
Mato-Bateman
Guest
I think he has been quite alright when Farina has given him a go. Bojic is the big problem. He can barely control the ball.
Chopper
Guest
Fully agree Theo gives me palpitations with anything from distance. It would be worthwhile looking at how many long range free kicks have been scored against him. As for his whole performance in the game I would suggest Acton has a chance to start against Victory.
matthew_gently
Guest
Interesting thought. I'd personally love to see a heavily Roar-biased squad in Brazil next year. While I agree that Bratten is often guilty of giving the ball away under pressure, he's generally a joy to watch. Vision, technique, and work-rate. I haven't seen any stats on it, but I wonder if anyone at Brisbane covers more ground or takes more touches, match after match? His dead-ball skills are under-rated too.
matthew_gently
Guest
Jurman on Sydney's books speaks volumes. He was so rubbish at Brisbane...
Clayts
Guest
Laughable if he does. For every pass he hits he gives away 2 or 3, especially when under pressure. Having said that, would love to see him succeed to that level
Clayts
Guest
Agree. Sydney didnt deserve a goal and Roar could have scored more. ADP took a massive dive for the free kick and only he could have scored it. Perhaps another keeper would have saved it too. I've been saying Theo is awful from distance for years. As good as Brisbane maybe, Theo makes me nervous every game. Why did he go for that ball at the end?
The Bear
Guest
Not quite. I think he's excellent for the HAL, but just not quite the total skill set for international duties Club or Country. Unless someone can be paired up with him to cover the ground like a terrier, just leave him soak up the undulation and kill it it here, like he is. Top player, though, no doubt ; )
Mato-Bateman
Guest
After that 2-1 win over Heart, I told my mate that Sydney are a couple of matches away from a thumping and it turned out to be true. If Wellington were better finishers, they would have smashed Sydney as well. It's been coming. I don't understand Farina's tactics and selection policy. How Farina could rush in Emerton is unavailable. As for Bojic and Thompson, they have been under performing for weeks. Farina has alot of explaining to do when Jurman can't even make the bench this week but when he came on last week for Bojic, things looked alot sharper at the back. He is absolutely clueless Farina. How could Thompson get a starting midfield spot ahead of some good youngsters coming through is mind boggling. Youth players such as Tomelic, Urosevski are killing it in the Youth League, as are Mitch Mallia and Daniel Petkovski. Give these guys a go. But good to see Gligor and Gamiero getting game time but they need more time. Things have to change and it has to change now.
Patrick Hargreaves
Roar Guru
Luke Brattan - World cup bolter
Striker
Guest
Agree fadida they need a good coach.
fadida
Guest
Agree Real. The one point that stands out a mile through the short history of the league is that clubs with intelligent and progressive coaches a)play the best football b) are the most successful c) produce the best young talent. Into that category go AP at Roar and MV, Mulvey at Roar, Arnold at CCM and Popovic at WSW. Despite SFC winning 2 titles they are very much underachievers; short termism, generally poor entertainment despite marquees with a succession of below average coaches. Bottom line is it is all about the coach
Origami
Guest
Agree. As you can see from that list even if they sack Farina, there's no confidence they'll replace him with better. Also their list is out of balance - emerton is now an old plonker, Matt Thompson is well past it, and Nicky carle as a defensive midfielder has failed - well that wasn't even a good idea in the first place. I must admit my heart sank when they appointed Farina, and I'm a wanderers supporter. The 17k fans who turned up last night deserve much better. Even a different venue where 17k fills the stadium.
realfootball
Guest
Yep on all counts.
realfootball
Guest
And, lest we forget, Rado was the brains.
realfootball
Guest
Some beautiful football from Brisbane. Broich played the false 9 as it should be played. But Sydney, oh Sydney. The sick man of the A League. The bottom line is that we would all be much better off with a powerhouse Sydney FC. They're the team everyone wants to hate - but can't because they are beneath even contempt. The press are reporting that half the squad is off contract at the end of this season. Now is the perfect time to bring in a coach of proven quality, a marquee coach as some have suggested. There will, literally, never be a better opportunity. I feel very sorry for Farina, but in Sydney FC's interests, and in the interests of the A League, he has to go at the end of this season. The average age of the Sydney lineup of 30.5 is, on its own, indicative of Farina's incompetence. And ADP is way, way past it. Yes, he can hit a free kick. But he can't run. And he is an absolutely disgraceful diver.
Titus
Guest
@BES......yeah, no doubt, it was actually a bit of a shock to see how fast the game could actually be played.
striker
Guest
Agree what's worse is this was the perfect opportunity to build there fan base but instead there football is pathetic I hope there crowd's will still be there once ADP retires.
Titus
Guest
.
BES
Guest
Well at least when they see SFC play Brisbane they see some decent football played...