Coaching team Stuart McLaren and Luciano Trani have fashioned a Brisbane Strikers side this season that looks ready for semi-finals football. Tonight at Perry Park they ground out another 1-0 win, this time over NSL new boys Adelaide United.
Luke Morleyıs 10th minute opportunist strike was the difference between the two teams. That and a superb display by Brisbane goalkeeper Scott Higgins, who was the undisputed man of the match. There can be no higher compliment than to say that the Strikers have not missed their injured No 1 Jason Kearton at all over the past month. Higgins has been outstanding and tonight his clearances at corners saved the home team on many occasions.
Before the game Brisbane board members and fans farewelled left wing back Shane Stefanutto, who is jetting off to Norway tomorrow to take up a contract with Lillestrom. His departure leaves a big question mark. The 2003-04 Strikers play a 3-5-2, and relied heavily on the pace of Stefanutto and Steve Fitzsimmons on the flanks. McLarenıs solution tonight was to switch Fitzsimmons to the left touchline and push Adam Webber, a right full back, up to right wing back.
Fitzsimmons was excellent on the left, and had one of his best games for the season. Webber looked as though a more attacking role did not come naturally to him. Late in the game Webber was substituted for Chris Scuderi, who instantly looked more of an attacking threat.
Adelaide started in John Kosminaıs favoured 4-4-2, with veterans Veart and Vidmar attempt to provide the verve and vigour up front. Veart was fine with the vigour side of things, and was a good target man for the Adelaide midfield, but Aurelio Vidmar was a peripheral figure until he was substituted midway through the second half.
The game had barely got through opening formalities when the home team took the lead. Adelaideıs central defenders Michael Valkanis and Kristian Rees got in each otherıs way in trying to control a high ball in the box. All they succeeded in doing was gifting the ball to Luke Morley, whose instant shot went through the defenders. The keeper Scarsella could not have got a good look at the shot as it came through the crowded penalty box, and surely could blame his defenders for not dealing with the threat much better.
The rest of the half saw plenty of goal-scoring opportunities, first for Adelaide and then for Brisbane. But no one could repeat Morleyıs deadly accuracy (not even himself).
In the 15th minute Carl Veart had an air swing at a volley when clear about 10 metres out from goal. Two minutes later, a Shane Thompson cross to Vidmar at the near post saw the Adelaide striker miss the target when unopposed.
Counter-attacking immediately, Louis Brain volleyed over from a superb position with only the keeper to beat, as Steve Fitzsimmons served the ball up to him on a plate. Then in the 20th minute, some excellent Strikers passing saw Adam Webber fire in a cross from the right, which Luke Morley headed over the bar.
Shane Thompson went off injured in the 24th minute and was replaced by Adriano Pellegrino. Fitzsimmons was creating havoc down the left. Richie Alagich resorted to jersey-tugging tactics to stop him and was yellow carded.
Morley had another golden chance in the 33rd minute when Louis Brain drew the two defenders towards him and slipped a pass to the unmarked Morley, but his shot ballooned over the goal.
Adelaide started to win a few corners. Aaron Westerveltıs inswingers from the right were being met by the dominating figure of Scott Higgins.
Brisbane were good value for their half-time lead, and with the chances they had created, and the fact that in the second half they would be attacking their favoured Torcida Banana end, the home fans were confident of at least one more goal in the second half.
They had a couple of chances early as Luke Morley found space on the right hand side of Adelaideıs defence. But once his first touch let him down, and the second time he tried to square the ball instead of shooting himself.
After that it was Adelaide who made all the running. McKay and Pilic began to tire and had less influence in the middle. Brisbane had been winning the midfield contest in the first half, but Aloisi and Westervelt began to seize control in the second.
Still Adelaide didnıt make many clear chances, despite having a mountain of possession and applying heaps of pressure. McLaren, Dodd and McCloughlan were very solid as usual, and Adelaide began to resort to banging crosses in from wide midfield positions.
Most of these were cleared away efficiently, but on a couple of occasions the ball bobbled around in the penalty box for longer than the home fans liked.
Brisbane bought on Matt Hilton and Josh Rose to liven up their attack, but the service to them by this stage consisted of hacked-out clearances and hopeful punts downfield from the keeper. Grabbing a goal on the break seemed Brisbaneıs only prospect, and Matt Hilton went closest in 73rd minute, his shot from distance beating Scarsella who was well off his line, but going just wide.
Adelaide continued to press forward and must have had at least 70 percent possession in the second half. But the goal just wouldnıt come, and home fans breathed a big sigh of relief as they welcomed the refıs final whistle. It signalled a second clean sheet in a row, and nine games undefeated at home this season.
Goalscoring continues to be a problem for the Strikers. The Luke Morley-Louis Brain combination which started tonightıs game was perhaps the most creative and promising pairing so far, and deserves another chances. Also deserving of a chance from the start is Chris Scuderi who seems to this writer to be the best candidate in the squad for the right wingback role. Another possibility will arise when left-sided attacker Warren Moon returns from injury, which could free Fitzsimmons to return to the right.
The match against the Olyroos on Saturday night will give McLaren and Trani a chance to experiment. With the departure of Stefanutto, it might take a couple of matches to work out the best side once more.
Adelaide could not be disheartened about tonightıs performance. They certainly deserved an A for effort, and only needed a slice of luck to have claimed an equaliser at some stage in the second half. However, Veart and Vidmar look to be past their best, and would perhaps be more damaging as substitutes against tiring defenders.
Brisbane has now had visits from all the top sides bar Marconi and Sydney United. Of their championship rivals, only Perth has taken any points home with them. It seems there is only a slim margin between success and failure on this yearıs NSL. The Strikers have found the resilience and the luck that they have missed in previous years.
It is quite possible that this could be the Brisbane Strikersı last chance to claim a second NSL championship. Thereıs a long way to go, but from what weıve seen at Perry Park this season, thereıs no team that in the NSL that the Strikers should fear.