An impressive second half display has kept the Queensland Roar's slim finals chances alive after beating Sydney FC 2-1. A brace from Alex Brosque was enough to see off he Sydney siders as they failed to win in their consecutive game.
The less said about the first half the better. Neither side could put more than five passes together as they both tried to play the ball at an impossible speed.
Both teams were resigned to long range shooting and Seo Hyuk-Su threatened in the third minute with a powerful free kick that whistled passed the post. Five minutes later and the Roar should have taken the lead when Jonathan Richter played in a superb cross to Reinaldo on the back post. But the giant Brazilian failed to connect with the header and the chance went begging.
It took another twenty minutes for any real goalmouth action. This time it was Sydney's turn to butcher an easy chance. David Carney flew down the right hand side. He passed it back to Fyfe, who was playing in midfield for this one. His cross from the edge of the area found Bingley in acres of space. But the former Socceroo could only power his header wide.
The first half did have one last moment of action in the 35th minute. Alex Brosque delivered a delightful ball to Reinaldo who was clean through on goal. He upended in the area by a Sydney defender, but referee Simon Przydacz waved play on.
Some stern words at half time were certainly needed to bring this game to life. Miron Bleiberg must have given his chargers a mouthful because the second half was a completely different story.
The Roar came out with something to prove in the second. Their free flowing football seen regularly throughout the season was resurrected in the second half. Straight from the kickoff and Richter down the left cut back inside and unleashed a shot, which was blocked. The ball did fall to Reinaldo, but his shot was scrambled for a corner by Clint Bolton.
A couple of minutes later and Baird saw his deflected shot saved by the former Brisbane goalkeeper. There was no sign of the Roar letting up. Seo won the ball back in his own half, and sent a delightful through ball to Reinaldo. He was clean through on goal, but a last ditch tackle by Mark Rudan denied the Brazilian.
In the 56th minute the enterprising Alex Brosque was put through on goal, he played past Bolton, only to see come off the post. He would have been denied anyway as the linesman had his flag up. But five minutes later and the Roar would finally make the pressure pay. Richter once again cut inside, but had his shot blocked. Fyfe went to clear but was tackled by Seo. The ball fell to Brosque who dispatched the volley with ease. They took a deserved lead after barraging the Sydney goal.
But the Roar fans had seen their side let a lead slip away before and weren't getting over excited. Yet this was a different side in the second half. They kept on piling the pressure. Five minutes after the goal and Baird was clean through on goal, but the Romania bound striker missed the goal completely.
In the 70th minute and a 3 on 3 situation arose in the Sydney half. Baird released the ball out wide to Richter. Richter ran into the box. Brosque made a jinking run, Richter cut it back, and Brosque slotted it home. After all his industrious play Brosque was finally living up to his huge potential.
The second goal shocked Sydney into action. They began to pour forward in numbers. But the Roar defence was to stand firm, until a few minutes before the end. Second half substitutes Steve Corica and Sasho Petrovski played a neat one-two. Petrovski ran into the box where the ball bounced off two Roar defenders and left Petrovski with the goal to aim it. He duly obliged and Sydney pulled one back.
After a season of missed opportunities the Roar fans feared the worst. But Sydney couldn't find a way through and it ended up being the Roar with a late chance. In stoppage time Clint Bolton dropped the ball right in front of Royce Brownlie. He played it back to debutant David Williams. But Bolton had cut down the angle and Williams could shoot into the Sydney goalkeeper.
Soon after it was official the Roar recorded their second home win of the season. It was a long time coming but the second half display was worth it for the fans. The Roar now must win their remaining two matches against Central Coast and Newcastle, but also hope results go their way. While Sydney, now in third, will be wondering what happened to their season after being in the top two for so long.