A-League: Brisbane Roar spoil Besart Berisha’s 100th game for Melbourne Victory

MELBOURNE Victory’s team was picked with one eye on Tuesday and their Asian Champions League opener now becomes high stakes.

Brisbane Roar’s Massimo Maccarone is challenged by Melbourne Victory defender James Donachie on Friday night.

MELBOURNE Victory’s team was picked with one eye on Tuesday and their Asian Champions League opener now becomes high stakes.

Victory will spend the next two months juggling both competitions and Friday night’s 2-1 loss to Brisbane Roar means A-League finals are no fait accompli.

Brisbane rose to sixth and drew within four points of Victory after the win at AAMI Park, which leaves Victory coach Kevin Muscat and his players with some soul searching to do ahead of the Ulsan Hyundai clash.

Friday night underlined why Muscat should mix things up more often.

The coach made a statement by benching James Troisi and the Socceroo returned the favour by unleashing a 25-metre rocket into the top right corner that ignited a fightback. That in itself justified the decision.

Late subs, state league product Kenny Athiu and youth team talent Josh Hope helped the revival by injecting energy into a lacklustre Victory.

Brisbane Roar’s Massimo Maccarone is challenged by Melbourne Victory defender James Donachie on Friday night.

Striker Athiu made an instant impact with his blistering pace and aerial ability, putting Brisbane on the back foot.

Ethic’s bursts were accompanied by a huge cheer, as was the entrance of midfielder Josh Hope moments later, indicating that Victory fans are itching to see fresh faces.

That should occur in the Champions League, and the glimpses Athiu and Hope showed — and previously Christian Theoharous, who was omitted from the squad — underlines why Muscat would be foolish not to use them. It also poses the question why he hasn’t called on them more often.

Athiu gave Roar defender Avraam Papadopoulos — who was superb until then — all sorts of problems, forcing the veteran defender into a booking for a professional foul as he looked set to be exposed when the striker was through.

In the end, Victory ran out of time and fans repeated their halftime jeers at the final whistle despite the fast finish.

Melbourne Victory’s James Troisi unleashes a rocket against Brisbane Roar on Friday night.

Brisbane fielded the A-League’s oldest side ever, with an average age of 33 years and four months, with the oldest of the lot netting the opener.

Massimo Maccarone’s Serie A smarts saw him expertly fend off Victory defender James Donachie before spinning and blasting the ball inside the post.

The Italian had a huge part to play in the second, as exploited a gap in defence after Rhys Williams had turned it over higher up the pitch.

Brett Holman had made a superb overlap into space, Maccarone released him and he sold a dummy before finishing with his left.

Victory’s goal came with stoppage time approaching, as Troisi unleashed a trademark rocket from distance after Roar cleared a corner.

Roar’s veterans remained compact, physical and disciplined to the death, leaving Victory frustrated and killing off faint hopes of a top two finish.

BRISBANE ROAR 2 (Massimo Maccarone 7m, Brett Holman 28m) bt MELBOURNE VICTORY 1 (James Troisi 83m) at AAMI Park. Crowd: 14,576. Referee: Chris Beath