Brisbane Roar v Melbourne City: Roar make it three wins in a row, snapping City’s winning streak

BRISBANE Roar chalked up a hat-trick of victories for the first time this season, snapping Melbourne City’s four-game winning streak with a 3-1 triumph.

INSPIRED by a Corona masterclass, Brisbane Roar chalked up a hat-trick of victories for the first time this season with a 3-1 triumph that snapped Melbourne City’s four-game winning streak.

In front of their biggest home crowd of the season of 16,435, the second-placed Roar moved four points clear of City on the A-League ladder with their seventh win of the campaign.

The Roar led 2-1 deep into the contest and had several chances to kill off the contest before substitute Henrique finally sealed the three points in stoppage time.

The livewire found an empty net with a shot from almost 50 metres out after goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen had gone up the other end for a City corner as the visitors desperately searched for a last-gasp equaliser.

Earlier, an own goal from City skipper Patrick Kisnorbo and a strike from the recalled Brandon Borrello — his fifth goal of the season — had the Roar leading 2-0 at the break.

City got themselves back into the game four minutes after halftime through their star striker Bruno Fornaroli, who became the fastest player in A-League history to reach 10 goals.

But that was the visitors’ only joy on a night dominated by Spanish import Corona, who overshadowed City star and Socceroo Aaron Mooy in the crucial midfield battle.

“I thought Corona showed his experience and his class on the ball,” Roar coach John Aloisi said.

“Especially when we needed someone to take the pressure off, he slowed it down or quickened it up.

Brandon Borrello of the Roar celebrates after scoring.

“He doesn’t look quick but he seems to glide past players. In big games, big players step up and he sure stepped up.”

Mooy was quiet in the first half and only got into the game with City searching for an equaliser.

“I still think Mooy caused us issues especially in the second half. In between our midfield and defence, he picked up the ball,” Aloisi said.

“As a team we tried to stay compact and reduce the space, and that’s something that’s part of our structure.”

Both Aloisi and his City counterpart John van’t Schip played down a second-half melee involving players from both sides after the Roar took exception to what seemed to be a kick on defender Jack Hingert by City attacker Harry Novillo.

Shane Stefanutto of the Roar celebrates.

Four players — Novillo and his teammate Paulo Retre, and Roar defenders Jade North and Daniel Bowles — were booked following the scuffle.

“Everyone was passionate. You could see the passion was overflowing a bit. I think the referee dealt with it and after that there wasn’t much else,” Aloisi said.

Van’t Schip echoed Aloisi’s sentiments on the brawl.

“Those are things that happen. The referee and the linesman were on top of it. They dealt with it in a good way,” said the Dutchman, who wasn’t surprised that passion overflowed in the battle of two of the competition’s heavyweights.

“It could have been a finals game because it was third versus second. You could sense that both teams wanted to prove something.

“Tonight Brisbane clearly proved they were the winners. It’s up to us now to bounce back.”

Originally published as Brisbane Roar v Melbourne City: Roar make it three wins in a row, snapping City’s winning streak