The Brisbane Strikers look like they might have unlocked the secret to grinding out results in tight games, getting home 1-0 over 10-man South Melbourne at Perry Park on Saturday night.
There were two defining moments in a game that rarely reached great heights. In the 32nd minute, South Melbourne defender Steve Laurie was shown a straight red card after tangling with Brisbaneıs Louis Brain. And from a corner in the 79th minute, Brisbane captain Peter Grierson rose above a packed goalmouth to power an excellent header past Eugene Galekovic.
The second moment had no direct correlation with the first. Brisbane used their extra man often in build-up play in the second half, but when the goal finally came it had nothing to do with extra numbers.
Brisbane began the game in a patient, keep-possession-at-all-costs mode. After their 6-1 drubbing against Perth last week, player-coach Stuart McLaren had criticised his team for failing to keep possession well. For the first 15 minutes of this match, South Melbourne barely got the ball. And when they did, Pilic, McKay and Brain swarmed all over them.
Matt McKayıs sharpness in midfield took some of the playmaking load from Peter Griersonıs shoulders. But the notoriously stingy South Melbourne defence, marshalled by Steve Laurie and durable Mehmet Durakovic, kept the Strikers at bay.
For all of Brisbaneıs possession, South Melbourne had the first two chances. Scott Tunbridge headed an excellent Ante Kovacevic cross just wide (12th minute), and Michael Curcija also missed the target with a good shooting chance inside the box in the 16th minute.
Most of Brisbaneıs best play was happening down the right touchline. Louis Brain, pushed up front by McLaren for this game, beat his man and got his cross right onto Royce Brownlieıs head. But Brownlie got too high above the ball, and his header bounced over the cross bar.
Then Steve Fitzsimmons on the back of the some slick Strikersı passing put in a cross that floated to the far post. McKayıs header was parried by Galekovic, who was then able to clean up the crumbs despite the attention of Brain and Brownlie.
Steve Laurieıs dismissal followed almost straight away. It seemed a harsh and hasty decision to this writer, but obviously referee Mark Shield saw something in the altercation that I didnıt. South Melbourne didnıt go too defensive after the send off, leaving only three at the back most of the time. Durakovic simply pulled fullbacks Storey and Kovacevic closer into him, and asked his wide midfielders Lia and Tunbridge to cover back.
And with the Strikers unable to create many clear chances, South Melbourne spent most of the match hoping they could hang on for a draw, or maybe nick a winner on the break.
Southıs youthful central midfield pairing of Kristian Sarkies and Massimo Murdocca impressed with their skills and short passing, but failed on too many occasions with their pass forward. Their understanding with Michael Curcija seemed especially poor, and many passes intended for him were cut out by McCloughlan or Dodd.
99-goal man Vaughan Coveny was much more dangerous, especially when dropping deep into midfield and running at the defence.
Brisbane relied on Grierson and McKay setting up their wide men, Fitzsimmons and Stefanutto. Stefanutto had an unhappy first half, however, and really only got into the game in the second half.
Fitzsimmons and Pilic were replaced in the second half, as Luciano Trani looked for fresh legs to stretch Southıs defence. But the subs Rose and Scuderi didnıt have any great impact on the match. Likewise for South, the veteran gamebreakers Trimboli and Boutsianos were given a chance to fire but couldnıt find the necessary spark.
The game seemed destined to peter out into a draw until Griersonıs intervention. South Melbourne would have been good value for a point, and might consider themselves hard done by.
But the scoreline was the same as the match earlier in the season in Melbourne. 1-0 to the Strikers, taking them back up to fourth place on the ladder.
Itıs famine or feast for Strikers fans at present. After two weeks without a home game, the Strikers are in the middle of three in a row. On Wednesday, the visit of John Kosminaıs Adelaide United will be a special occasion. The fans will welcome back a favourite in Richie Alagich, and might have a message or two for former coach Kosmina.
And next Saturday night, the Strikers will play a friendly against the Olyroos, Australiaıs under-23 team preparing for Athens.
Both matches will be severe tests of the Strikersı unbeaten record at home this season. Almost 3500 saw them win tonight perhaps a few more will come out to see the Olyroos next Saturday night.