Brisbane had one clear-cut chance on goal, took it and snatched a 1-0 victory over the Melbourne Knights in their opening game of the national soccer league season here this afternoon.
The Knights let this one go as they should have sealed the match in the first half but, when Peter Dwyer headed a looping header into the net in the 69th minute, the Strikers shut up shop and the Victorians never really looked like pulling back the leveller.
Neither of these sides will be in play-off contention on this showing and the 5,000 fans watching the game soon came to realise that.
The Knights' best player today, Mark Silic, had the chance to open the scoring when a lucky bounce fell his way, but Clint Bolton saved for the Strikers with his shins just before the break.
Mijo Trupkovic then hit a swerving drive just over the crossbar as the Knights finished the first term with a late flurry.
Dragi Nastevski latched onto a Silic through ball early in the second half, raced 40 metres into the heart of the penalty area and let fly.
Bolton was at full stretch and turned the drive wide.
The Strikers, though, were beginning to gain a foothold in the Knights' half in a game that looked like it would peter out to a scoreless draw.
Paul Foster then robbed Rody Vargas with a timely tackle, the ball fell to him and he clipped it to the far post where Dwyer was waiting to head the ball goalbound.
Trupkovic produced a surging run late in the game, but Bolton again matched his effort and the Strikers had won only the second time in ten outings at Knights Stadium.
Brisbane coach John Kosmina said his players had 'toughed it out" at a ground they had achieved little reward in the past.
"We got into some good positions and never really made the most of them," Kosmina said.
"We could have had as couple more digs. We need to be more aggressive around the edge of the box."
Knights coach Joe Biskic said his side would bounce back after showing some potential.
"Nothing worked for us today," Biskic said. "I'm disappointed but we did create chances, especially in the first half, but somehow we could not convert and I have to give credit to their goalkeeper."
"The goalkeeper made two or three tremendous saves and we conceded a sloppy goal."