Marco Rojas delivers a two-goal blow to his former club Melbourne Victory

In his first game as a starter since joining Brisbane Roar, New Zealand international Marco Rojas starred against his former club.

Roar players celebrate with fans during Brisbane’s win over the Victory. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Reluctant hero Marco Rojas scored a brace as Brisbane Roar beat a “soft” Melbourne Victory 3-2 on Sunday.

Playing against his former club for the first time since returning to the A-League last month, ex-Victory star Rojas kept his goal celebrations to a minimum at Suncorp Stadium.

However, the 32-year-old New Zealand international – who opened the scoring in the first-half minute with a clever header – did manage to crack a smile after scoring the second of his goals in the 56th minute to restore Brisbane’s advantage after Frenchman Zinedine Machach had equalised for the visitors.

Teenage striker Thomas Waddingham continued his good form in giving Brisbane a 3-1 lead in the 70th minute.

The Victory, who weren’t at the races for most of the afternoon, then gave the Roar a scare when substitute Roly Bonevacia scored with four minutes of normal time remaining after coming off the bench in his first appearance for the Melbourne club he joined last month.

However, the hosts survived five minutes of stoppage time to secure their seventh win of the season and leapfrog Melbourne City to move to seventh place on the ladder.

Marco Rojas (centre) is congratulated by his Brisbane Roar teammates after scoring against Melbourne Victory. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“It was really nice to get on the scoresheet, (but) just muted celebrations,” Rojas told Network 10 after the win.

“I have a lot of respect for their club. I loved my time there, love the people that are there and the fans too.”

Rojas, who had been on the books of Chilean club Colo Colo before joining the Roar, was making his first start for Brisbane after four appearances as a substitute.

“It was nice to get a start and be out there on the pitch for a little bit longer,” said the attacking genius, who was replaced in the 67th minute by Ayom Majok.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve started a football game, so it was really nice.

“I’m happy overall. The team dug in real deep, and I’m very proud of the boys.”

Rojas said the three points were “hugely important” for a Brisbane side desperate to play finals football in what had been a rollercoaster season thus far.

“We spoke about the importance of (a win) because of the situation we’re in,” he said.

“We just need to start picking up points and we’re really happy that we could do it tonight.”

Victory coach Tony Popovic could only lament his side conceding “three soft goals”.

“Today was a poor defensive game for us,” said Popovic, whose fourth-placed team has suffered back-to-back losses to fall nine points adrift of leaders Wellington Phoenix.

“We normally don’t give the opposition easy chances and easy goals, and today we gave away three soft goals.”

Originally published as Marco Rojas delivers a two-goal blow to his former club Melbourne Victory