Two goals from deflections have kept Brisbane Roar on course for the A-League finals, as they overcame Newcastle Jets 2-1.
Brisbane’s influential Irish midfield import Jay O’Shea scored at both ends in the second half at McDonald Jones Stadium.
He conceded an own goal just after the hour for Newcastle’s equaliser, but his 73rd minute shot from outside the area flicked off Jets substitute Lucas Mauragis on its way to the net.
The result consolidated sixth spot for Brisbane, who pulled three points of clear of both Western Sydney and Perth Glory and within one point of fifth-placed Macarthur.
It was a well deserved first win in four games for Brisbane, who had most of the chances against last-placed Newcastle, whose club-record streak without a win stretched to 14 games.
Both sides started cautiously, but Brisbane dominated the last 20 minutes of the first half.
“As a collective we’ve spoke about our slow starts, but we’re probably disappointed with that start again but after that we settled down and we took control of the game.” Roar coach Warren Moon said.
“On the whole, really pleased with the performance and obviously the result.”
Dylan Wenzel-Halls had potentially his first goal in eight games denied by an offside call confirmed by the VAR in the 26th minute after he headed in a cross from Riku Danzaki.
(Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Roar opened the scoring in the 34th minute, when a shot from Alex Parsons flicked off teammate Danzaki, for the Japanese player’s eighth goal of the campaign.
After the goal, Brisbane continued to press forward and create chances, while Newcastle looked lifeless in attack and didn’t manage a first-half attempt on target.
Looking for an injection of energy, Newcastle coach Craig Deans made two halftime changes, replacing Connor O’Toole and Ali Abbas with Mauragis and 16-year-old Archie Goodwin.
Newcastle lifted and equalised in the 61st minute, when O’Shea headed in a corner from Jets’ substitute Ramy Najjarine, who came on just seconds earlier.
O’Shea’s winner came from a corner.
“Whether we can get out earlier to the shots and get a better block on them or not, I’m not sure, I’d have to look at the video, but it’s a cruel way to concede two goals,” Newcastle coach Craig Deans said.
“Brisbane are a good team and they had more of the ball than we did, but I thought we defended quite well for the majority of the game.”
Moon said defender Macaulay Gillesphey, who came off at halftime with a foot injury, would need an x-ray to determine the extent of any damage.
BennoFootball
Roar Rookie
Yeah .... GET RID OF IT!!! Football WILL always have controversy that’s why I’ve Always stated that Goal Line Technology is the Only near perfect technology that assist humans. ( Nothing is Perfect ). Until technically, VAR is totally computerised with every mm of the pitch Marked and then compliment this with Force technology to determine Who was Pushing the hardest; Then leave it to the Human Computer which in Football consists of Referee and Two Linesmen ( Yes Men, which is plural for WoMEN and MEN!!! ). WE don’t need VAR, We need BETTER Quality Referee’s for the Top Flight. FORZA BRISBANE ROAR FOOTBALL CLUB!!!
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The reasoning for changing the var decision was that Birrighiti trod on Aiden ONeill and commited a foul first rather than ruling out the foul commited by Aiden ONeill. My problem with it is Aiden ONeill got trodden on because he was tugging on Birrighiti and his body shape at the time was to have his torso leaning backwards and his feet towards Birrighitii to give him extra leverage to hold Birrighitti down from jumping. It seems Aiden ONeill never intended to jump at all he was just going to be a premeditated dead weight hanging onto Birrighiti. In the case of Bobos handball ruling by the VAR they ignored a foul on Bobo before the handball . The goal from Noone was a clear foul on Nisbet though and that wasn't reviewed.
BennoFootball
Roar Rookie
Agree JB, It was a Joke to introduce it, it’s a farce to continue with it!!! We ( Football ) have introduced with the VAR, a second tear of MISTAKES by Referees. The ONLY Technology that I think is brilliant is .... Goal Line Technology!!! The Idea of FIFA was to standardise The Rules of Football throughout The Whole Planet, the cost of GLT WILL come Down in time where Most Other Football Clubs will be able to use it. I’m afraid the The Cost of VAR WILL only Go Up .... to many people involved besides the Match officials and therefore The Cost Burden to most Other Football Clubs Will be prohibitive. GLT NOT VAR!!! FORZA BRISBANE ROAR FOOTBALL CLUB!!!
jbinnie
Guest
Just how long are we to put up with this VAR nonsense. What started way back as a means of measuring whether a ball had crossed the goal line has now morphed into a system that is not only ruling the game, but is ruling the referees who we are told have the final decision. In the Roar game DWH 's goal that never was was a disgraceful decision made obviously not by the man in the middle but how any human can see a 2-3 inch offside with certainty is not only ruining the referee's credibility but in fact is detrimental to most fan's needs, they want to see goals. Tonight's farce in Melbourne was the "daddy of them all' decisions. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and even went as far as setting up the kick taker, talked to the keeper, and took up position for the kick to be taken. Then suddenly ----- changed his mind ( OR DID SOMEONE ELSE CHANGE IT FOR HIM) because just as suddenly the fans and viewers were left to wonder what the hell was going on, and after viewing the same shots as those at home, he ( or did he?) changed his mind and changed his decision. This method of controlling the outcome of a game is becoming a huge ,unadulterated , mess. Give it the heave. jb
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The first two deflections were bad luck, the third was the same as the goal Adelaide conceded the defenders failed to move upfield and no one was urgent enough to block off the shot either inviting a deflection. Its rather puzzling you find two good fast young players and they made Newcastle look a lot better. One of the worst misses of the season from Odonovan its just a puzzle what A-league teams see in this old guy. Deans seems to have a lot of defenders and excuse makers, I would say he is a joke. Look at Adelaide Ikinomidis was completely owned by the speed of Halloran and the physicality of Ryan Strain in the first half. In the second half other side on old Lopez he looks a great player. Ryan Strain hard and dirty player but what an actor this guy is he is the complete package gamesmanship wise like Muscat and Veart actually.