Six goals, two penalties, a send-off and Melbourne Victory going top of the A-League ladder.
It was a busy Friday night at Suncorp Stadium, with Kevin Muscat’s men extending their winning streak to six with a 4-2 win over Brisbane.
Most of the dramatics came in spectacular first half, during which all the goals were scored and Roar marquee Eric Bautheac received his marching orders after a scuffle with Victory stars Ola Toivenen and James Troisi.
Swedish international Toivenen and Japanese star Keisuke Honda were again at the heart of the action, both scoring for the visitors but also having a hand in the Roar’s two goals as well.
Former Brisbane striker Kosta Barbarouses scored twice for Victory to take his tally to four goals in the past three games for Kevin Muscat’s men.
There was also time for Adam Taggart to score from the penalty spot after he was tripped by Honda and Toivenen headed into his own net.
Victory coach Muscat believed the way his team shut down the match in a rain-lashed second half will be an important learning curve for his men.
“Just a challenge of our maturity, find out where we are as a team,” Muscat said.
“It was a good test for us in the second half. We had quite a few chances and limited them to set pieces.”
The defeat leaves Brisbane with just one win from eight matches this season.
Roar coach John Aloisi felt the dismissal of Bautheac was decisive in the end.
“I thought 11 v 11, we were matching them,” Aloisi said.
“We should have scored early on … then we lose the ball in a bad area and they score off their first chance.
“It was difficult playing, mainly against 12, the whole night.”
The ex-Socceroo praised Victory as a “good side” but believed decisions such as the awarding of a penalty against Roar defender Daniel Bowles when a Terry Antonis strike crashed into his arm did his team no favours.
“It would’ve been a great game if it was 11 v 11,” Aloisi said.
“I asked Adam (Fielding), the referee, at halftime where Bowlesy is supposed to put his arm? I don’t know where he’s supposed to put his arm. If it’s an intentional handball, it’s a second yellow card – off.
“We can only control and focus on ourselves and that’s what we’ll do.”
The Roar face three consecutive away matches starting next weekend against Wellington in New Zealand, while Victory will look to keep their winning streak going against crosstown rivals Melbourne City in a pre-Christmas derby.
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