Eric Bautheac scores twice and is sent off in Brisbane Roar’s win over Wellington Phoenix
Brisbane have dented Wellington Phoenix’s hopes of hosting an A-League semi-final on a rare night of joy for the struggling Roar.
A-League
Don't miss out on the headlines from A-League. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Update: Brisbane have dented Wellington Phoenix’s hopes of hosting an A-League semi-final on a rare night of joy for the struggling Roar.
An Eric Bautheac first-half brace proved enough as the Roar snapped a four-game losing streak with a 2-1 win at Suncorp Stadium.
Bautheac lowered his colours when he was sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card but his double propelled Brisbane to only their fourth win in what has been a horror season for the three-time A-League champions.
Phoenix’s loss was their second in succession. The defeat will cost them fourth place on Saturday night when Melbourne City host Adelaide United at AAMI Park.
Perhaps rattled by reports earlier in the day that coach Mark Rudan would be leaving the club at the end of the season, the Phoenix got what they deserved against a more committed Roar.
However they still would kicking themselves, with substitute Cillian Sheridan and David Williams both missing golden chances in the dying stages.
Earlier in the second half the Phoenix had dragged themselves back into the contest via a Steven Taylor header.
But in the end the Roar held on, much to the relief of interim coach Darren Davies and a small crowd who braved the conditions on a wet Brisbane night.
It was only the brilliance of Phoenix goalkeeper Filip Kurto that denied the Roar an early lead.
A glancing Thomas Kristensen header from a seventh-minute Alex Lopez corner seemed certain to find the back of the net until the lightning reflexes of the Polish gloveman saved the visitors.
Bautheac should have given the hosts the lead in the 27th minute after being fed by Nick D’Agostino.
But despite having plenty of time, the unmarked Frenchman rushed his shot and failed to hit the target.
Brisbane were eventually rewarded for their dominance when they went ahead in the 37th minute.
Bautheac gathered the ball in his own half, charged through the middle of the park, played a neat one-two with D’Agostino, and then got the better of three Phoenix defenders before dinking the ball over Kurto.
Five minutes later Bautheac doubled Brisbane’s lead.
Wenzel-Halls was the provider with a low cross across the face of the goal that Bautheac tapped home after the Phoenix’s Justin Gulley fell asleep at the far post.
Presumably given a half-time roasting by coach Rudan, the Phoenix came out with greater purpose in the second half.
It led to the New Zealand outfit cutting Brisbane’s lead in half in the 53rd minute through Taylor.
But any hopes the visitors had of taking something back to Wellington were thwarted by the late wastefulness of Sheridan and former Roar prodigy Williams.
Roar interim coach Davies said his side was “excellent” in the first half.
“My overall emotion is (that I’m) very proud of the players,” Davies said.
“There were a lot of young players out there, a big learning moment for them .. ... we’re going to keep on going until the end and tonight was an example of that.”
Rudan denied news of his departure at the end of the season, most likely for new club Western United, had affected his team.
“It’s not an excuse ... it won’t hamper anything,” said Rudan, who added it had been a “remarkable” season for the Phoenix despite the successive losses.
“What we’ve done is raised expectaions,” he said.
BRISBANE ROAR 2 (Eric Bautheac 37m, 42m) bt WELLINGTON PHOENIX 1 (Steven Taylor 53m) at SuncorpStadium. Crowd: 6,084. Referee: Peter Green
Brazilian star shines in Aussie debut
One of two massive A-League signings showed what he can bring after turning out for the first time in a huge Sydney FC win.
Roar booted off home ground by concert
An A-League club wants to move one of their home games to a much smaller venue after being forced to play it midweek due to the scheduling of a concert.