Brisbane Roar slump to record loss

The Melbourne Victory have handed Brisbane their biggest A-League defeat.

Alejandro Sanchez of the Roar and James Troisi of the Victory challenge for the ball. Getty Images

The Melbourne Victory have handed Brisbane their biggest A-League defeat and extended their opponent’s winless streak to nine with a 5-0 thumping at Suncorp Stadium last night.

Kevin Muscat’s men began like the heavy favourites they were, but were helped by some Roar wastefulness before running away from a rejigged Brisbane in the second half.

Swede Ola Toivonen struck first with a neat header when left alone at the back post in the 14th minute, while Kosta Barbarouses was calm from the penalty spot after a Luke De Vere handball to extend the margin in the 47th minute. An open Storm Roux then headed home a third from a corner, before Barbarouses drilled home his second and third against his former club, whose previous worst result was 5-1.

The win shoots the Victory to outright second ahead of Sydney FC, just one win behind league leaders Perth.

Interim Roar coach Darren Davies did his best to send a message, leaving veteran Matt McKay off the team sheet and dropping Thomas Kristensen to the bench. With Jack Hingert (ankle) also unavailable Alex Lopez wore the captain’s armband but the Spaniard wasn’t able to inspire an end to the Roar’s horror run. The Victory called all the shots in the opening 25 minutes, combining for nearly four times as many passes as the hosts (198-56) and hogging 66 per cent of the ball.

Things then suddenly opened up for Brisbane though, with Adam Taggart heading over the bar in the 27th minute before Eric Bautheac and Nick D’Agostino both forced saves from Laurence Thomas.

A heavy touch then robbed Taggart of a one-on-one with the keeper and, chasing his 50th A-League goal, the striker then forced Thomas into another sharp save. They were left to lament those missed opportunities.

AAP