Brisbane Roar’s poor A-League form continues with defeat in Gosford

Central Coast Mariners have continued their impressive A-League form at the expense of a Brisbane Roar side that continues to struggle.

Mariners goalscorer Miguel Di Pizio (right) shoots as Roar captain Tom Aldred approaches. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Brisbane Roar suffered a third successive loss and a seventh defeat in eight matches as their dismal run of form continued in Gosford on Saturday night.

Despite an improved performance, the Roar were beaten 2-0 by reigning champions Central Coast, who stretched their unbeaten A-League run to 10 games.

Teenage midfielder Miguel Di Pizio scored his maiden A-League goal to give the hosts a first-half lead, before in-form Colombian winger Angel Torres sealed the Mariners another three points with a 90th-minute strike.

The Mariners’ seventh win of the season moved them to within two points of second-placed Melbourne Victory.

“We’re in a good run of form right now and we’re in a good space as a team,” Di Pizio told Network 10.

“I feel like the culture in the team’s very strong, and I feel like we can go all the way.”

The Mariners celebrate Miguel Di Pizio’s goal against the Roar. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

In contrast, the Roar’s eighth loss of the season left them in ninth place among the competition’s also-rans.

The loss also continued Brisbane’s fall from grace, with the Roar having started their campaign with just one loss from their opening seven matches.

However, that was under Ross Aloisi, one of three coaches Brisbane have had in what has been yet another tumultuous season for the Queenslanders.

And things aren’t about to get any easier for current coach Ben Cahn and his team, with the Roar’s next opponent being A-League leaders Wellington Phoenix at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

Despite his side’s poor run of results, Cahn was adamant the Roar were making “progress in the right direction”.

“It’s a results business, but … we’ve put in a really good performance tonight,’ Cahn said.

“We matched it with them and we probably did enough in the first half to be ahead.”

In some positive news for the Roar, their best player, Irish midfielder Jay O’Shea, will be available for selection against the Phoenix after missing the loss to the Mariners because of suspension.

Despite O’Shea’s absence, Brisbane made an encouraging start in Gosford, with attacker Ayom Majok forcing a good save out of Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic in the 16th minute.

The Mariners responded with their own chance five minutes later with an Angel Torres strike that rolled wide of the target.

Poor defending presented Roar winger Nikola Mileusnic with a golden opportunity in the 27th minute but he placed his shot too close to Vukovic, who parried the ball to safety.

Somewhat against the run of play, the Mariners went ahead in the 38th minute via a slick counter-attack started by Josh Nisbet.

The star midfielder fed overlapping left-back Jacob Farrell, who cut inside before laying the ball into the path of teenager Di Pizio, whose first-time angled strike was too good for Roar goalkeeper Macklin Freke.

The Mariners had a chance to double their lead in the 49 minute when Brazilian right-back Mikael Doka was allowed to stroll into Brisbane’s penalty area before unleashing a shot that was well saved by Freke.

Roar substitute Thomas Waddingham missed a chance to equalise in the 82nd minute, with Torres being more clinical in the dying stages to end any hopes the visitors had of grabbing an equaliser.

Originally published as Brisbane Roar’s poor A-League form continues with defeat in Gosford