There’s life after Robbie for Roar

Brisbane Roar returned to the winners’ list over the struggling Melbourne Victory.

Victory’s Marco Rojas holds of Brisbane’s Corey Brown at Bankwest Stadium Picture: Getty Images

Brisbane Roar showed there is life after Robbie Fowler with a 2-1 win over the struggling Melbourne Victory at Bankwest Stadium on Wednesday night.

Beaten 1-0 by Adelaide United in new coach Warren Moon’s first game in charge following the departure of Fowler, the Roar hit back to not only condemn the Victory to their fourth successive defeat but boost their own chances of a top-two finish.

Second-half headers to the impressive Scott McDonald and substitute Matt Ridenton sealed the three points for Roar, but not before a late scare when Socceroos attacker Andrew Nabbout converted from the penalty spot after being brought down by Brisbane skipper Tom Aldred.

But it was too little too late for the Victory, who have now lost four games in a row for just the second time in the decorated club’s history.

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The Melbourne club started the better, with the pace of front three Marco Rojas, Nabbout and Luis Lawrie-Lattanzio causing headaches for the Roar defence.

But it was the Roar who had the first chance in the 17th minute when a goal-bound strike from Irish midfielder Jay O’Shea was well saved by former Brisbane goalkeeper Matt Acton.

Five minutes later it was the turn of Roar custodian Jamie Young – with the aid of the crossbar – to produce heroics when he got his fingertips on a sizzling strike from Victory fullback Storm Roux.

Ex-Roar defender James Donachie rescued the Victory in the 40th minute with a perfectly timed slide in the penalty area to thwart McDonald’s attempt to turn home a low Jack Hingert cross.

It was the first of three chances Brisbane had in the closing stages of the first half.

Attacking weapon Brad Inman failed to hit the target with an angled strike in the 41st minute. Inman then burst into the penalty area in the 44th minute but instead of shooting laid a square ball that an unmarked Dylan Wenzel-Halls failed to reach in time.

The Roar went ahead in the 56th minute through McDonald, whose header from a Brad Inman cross got the better of Acton after taking a slight deflection off the head of Victory captain Leigh Broxham.

Ridenton headed home an inch-perfect cross from Corey Brown, playing his 100th A-League game for Brisbane, to double the Roar’s lead in the 78th minute.

Nabbout’s 86th minute penalty ensured a nervous ending for Brisbane, but they held on to win for the 11th time this season.

NCA Newswire