Two teams desperately hoping to better their position on the A-League table will go head to head to kick off Round 17 when the Brisbane Roar host the Perth Glory. Join The Roar for live scores from the match and a live blog of the game at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night, starting from 7:50pm AEDT.
Brisbane have endured a significant fall from grace so far in the 2017-18 A-League season, after being one of last year’s finalists, they now seem more likely to be contender for the wooden spoon.
The departure of Jamie Maclaren from the club certainly hasn’t helped their position and coach John Aloisi so far hasn’t been able to find a way to get them back in the top six.
They have just three wins for the season and only one in their last nine games, coming against Adelaide United 2-1 four weeks ago.
Other than that their best result in the last two months is a nil-all draw with last-placed Wellington Phoenix, and they’ve kicked only five goals in their last nine appearances.
As for Perth, they very much seem to be the Jekyll and Hyde of the A-League, capable only of winning or losing, and never of salvaging points through a draw.
While the average A-League team has experienced four draws for the season so far in 2017-18, Perth have only one, the only side in the league not to have played in multiple draws.
That might be a good thing if the column balanced in favour of wins, but it doesn’t. They’ve got five wins to their name, but ten losses – more than any other side in the competition, even though they sit in seventh.
They also have the worst goal difference in the competition at -16.
Prediction
Perth had one of their good weeks when these sides last played less than a month ago. Can lightning strike twice? Odds are probably not.
Brisbane Roar 1-0.
Join The Roar for live scores from the match and a live blog of the game between the Brisbane Roar and Perth Glory at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night, starting from 7:50pm AEDT.
TK
Guest
What's that? 3 points? What a difference having the boss in the stands and a few first teamers back makes. Always loved Franjic's work and glad to have him back injury free.
j,binnie
Guest
Stuart -Crowd was 6,258 Roar's ;lowest crowd of this season at Suncorp reducing their 10 game average crowd to 9,136, down from last season's 10 home game average of 14,681 per game a drop of some 38%. jb.
Kanga Pinocchio
Guest
Well that was an entertaining start to round 17 and Brisbane are well and truly in the hunt for finals now . More pressure on Kenny Lowe , who wouldn’t know the meaning of Park the bus . Roll on the weekend games of our brilliant Australian football league.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Can’t wait :) Should be a fair old contest I reckon, a good one to end the weekend.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
John Aloisi looks a very relieved man. Just outside the six now.
Connor Bennett
Editor
The win tonight propels Brisbane from second last up into 7th on the ladder, just one win behind the Wanderers who are holding onto that last finals position at the moment. For Perth, they slip down one spot beneath tonight's opponent in the standings now on equal points. But with a goal difference of -17, a whole seven goals lower than the next worst in the league, it's going to be a tough slog for them to gain positions in the coming weeks.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Connor Bennett
Editor
Full Time The final whistle sounds and Brisbane have snapped the losing streak, snapped the goalless streak and they are headed back towards the top six after a very rough first half of their season. A thrilling contest of attacking football throughout the 90 minutes kept the game unpredictable with five goals coming across the night. Brisbane was able to jump ahead twice only for Perth to hit straight back in very quick fashion both times, but a third goal late in the second half was one hurdle too many for the Glory to stay in the game and they leave Brisbane without a competition point. It was a highly entertaining game to watch from start to finish with plenty of goals, but both sides left a few huge chances on the pitch in what could have easily been a seven or eight-goal contest, but it wasn't to be and the home side take the points with goals to Avraam Papadopoulos, Ivan Franjic and finally the returning Brett Holman to finish the job. For Perth, it was a brace to Chris Harold that kept them alive and kicking in the game for as long as they did.
Brisbane Roar: 3 Perth Glory: 2
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Crowd figure anyone?
Stuart Thomas
Expert
It might be time to go Kenny.
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' - +4 Brisbane taking all the time in the world to keep play moving, happy to burn the clock as they win a free kick deep in the Perth half on the right edge of the box. Will they have a crack at goal number four? Or will they just play the ball back and take the whistle? It's definitely the later and Maccarone just holds and works it back defensively
Brisbane Roar: 3 Perth Glory: 2
Stuart Thomas
Expert
We did it Waz, never in doubt, I told you I would get your boys home.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Yellow Card 90' - +3 Shane Lowry is a very late addition to the refs book for a lazy challenge. A few bananas tonight across both sides in a heated clash
Brisbane Roar: 3 Perth Glory: 2
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' - +2 Deep clearance from Young and Brisbane are just trying to keep the ball in the enemy half. Perth firing off a long ball in hope of finding a stray target up front but to no avail. There hasn't been a lot of method to the Glory madness since conceding the third goal
Brisbane Roar: 3 Perth Glory: 2
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' - +1 We're past the regulation 90 and Perth are living on borrowed time now. A Brisbane win is well within reach as Perth look to shoot down the left wing, only to give up a goal kick trying to force the corner
Brisbane Roar: 3 Perth Glory: 2
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' - SUBSTITUTION A final change for Brisbane, bringing on Mitch Oxborough and taking of Khalfallah
Brisbane Roar: 3 Perth Glory: 2
Stuart Thomas
Expert
The Roar are home. Nothing can stop them from here. They deserve the victory.
Connor Bennett
Editor
89' - The Roar moving well with their short passing game through the middle, maintaining control and just keeping the pill out of reach of the frantic Glory defence, pushing hard and piling on the pressure
Brisbane Roar: 3 Perth Glory: 2
Connor Bennett
Editor
88' - Perth back in possession ad very quickly into the enemy half, pushing the ball from side to side looking for something, anything, up front that they can pounce on. But Brisbane make the steal and Maccarone is there early to control the pill and make sure his side stay in control with the clock winding down
Brisbane Roar: 3 Perth Glory: 2
Connor Bennett
Editor
87' - Lowry ends his own sides chance there by giving away a foul at the least opportune time. Brisbane in no rush to get play up and running again, playing it safe along the back and they are really looking to park the bus now by the looks of it.
Brisbane Roar: 3 Perth Glory: 2