Brisbane Roar already looking for revenge after Melbourne Victory thumping
SHOCKED by Melbourne Victory’s demolition job on the Roar, Brisbane marquee man Thomas Broich is already planning redemption on March 12.
SHOCKED and mortified by Melbourne Victory’s demolition job on the Roar, Brisbane marquee man Thomas Broich is already planning redemption on March 12.
That is when the Roar host the Victory at Suncorp Stadium and Broich is adamant there will not be a repeat of the 4-0 thrashing the champions dished out at AAMI Park on Friday night.
After their worst performance of the season, Brisbane’s title credentials are now being questioned despite their lofty standing on the ladder.
With Brisbane already groggy after conceding three first-half goals, two of them giftwrapped via errant Javier Hervas passes, Broich said the Victory’s fourth goal seven minutes into the second half was “like a bullet in the head’’.
Scored by one-time Roar hero Besart Berisha, that goal was also handed to the Victory on platter, this time from a woeful pass in the lead-up from Brisbane fullback Shane Stefanutto.
“After that goal, for the last 30 or 40 minutes it would have been terrible to watch Brisbane, but not the Victory. They were flying of course,” Broich said.
“It looks like they absolutely demolished us, which in the end they did. It was a really disappointing night for us.
“We had high hopes. We really wanted to take the game to them. I can’t wait to play them next time. We are way better than what happened.’’
Rather than becoming too consumed with the return clash against the Victory, the Roar must focus on the immediate task of beating Adelaide United at Suncorp Stadium this Friday night.
“It’s about bouncing back,’’ Broich said. “We’re still in a great position on the table and we can still achieve everything we want to achieve.’’
There’s bound to be at least one change to the Roar side that started on Friday night, with Stefanutto out through suspension after being booked for the fifth time this season.
Based on the bath the veteran left-back received from Victory attacker Kosta Barbarouses, Stefanutto may have been struggling to retain his spot even if he had been eligible for selection.
His logical replacement is Corey Brown, although coach John Aloisi also has the option of shifting Daniel Bowles from the centre of defence to fullback and calling in Socceroos defender Luke DeVere, who seems close to full fitness after a long-term thigh injury.
Dimitri Petratos, surprisingly dropped to the bench against the Victory, will push for a recall to the starting side, either in the midfield or up front, where the Roar have struggled for goals in the absence of Olyroos pair Jamie Maclaren and Brandon Borrello.
Brisbane have failed to score in the two Roar games Maclaren and Borrello have missed due to AFC under-23 championships commitments in Qatar.
“Everyone would love to have a full squad but we haven’t and there are no excuses,” Aloisi said.
“The players that are out there are good enough to get results we feel against anyone if we play at our best.’’
Originally published as Brisbane Roar already looking for revenge after Melbourne Victory thumping
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