There's a lot to like about Queensland Roar in this season's Hyundai A-League. And it was all on show as the local team overwhelmed Wellington Phoenix 3-0 at Lang Park on Sunday night.
At the moment, Frank Farina has the right blend of experience and youth, with game-changing options on the bench. It was the introduction of Marcinho to replace Stuart McLaren that gave the Roar the extra spark they needed to score goals.
Last night's match was spoiled as a spectacle by the 34th minute red-carding of Ahmad Elrich for the alleged application of an elbow to the head of Hyuk-Su Seo.
Elrich's combination with Wellington's Brazilian playmaker Daniel had looked like the only factor that might stand in the way of a home victory. After he departed, Queenland's dominance was almost total.
For all that dominance, Queensland looked their most dangerous when on the counter-attack. Wellington defended quite high on the pitch, which left space behind their defence for the likes of Zullo and Kruse to exploit.
While Brazilian spearhead Reinaldo grabbed the headlines in the paper with his two-goal performance, it was the Roar's midfielders and wide men who caught this writer's eye. Massimo Murdocca had perhaps his best game in Queensland colours thus far, and his combinations with McKay and Marcinho ran Wellington ragged.
The Roar started brightly, and after 10 minutes Wellington centre-back Karl Dodd was cautioned for a late tackle on Murdocca. From the resulting free-kick by McKay, Sasa Ognenosvki was ever-so-close to scoring, denied by the legs of Glen Moss.
In the 13th minute, a patient inter-passing move by the Roar made its way through Zullo, McKay, and Reinaldo before McKay set up Seo for the shot. Just wide. A couple of minutes later, Reinaldo hit the base of the left post with a fabulous volley struck from the edge of the area through a thicket of Phoenix.
Next Kruse and Murdocca combined to create space on the right flank, and Reinaldo met Murdocca's cross to the near post but floated a difficult header over the bar.
The game was building, and Ahmad Elrich provided a rare highlight for the Phoenix when his free-kick fizzed just wide.
Elrich ensured his final appearance on the highlights reel shortly afterwards, along with a mandatory spell on the sideline.
Queensland had little to show for their domination of both territory and possession, with no score at half-time. With an hour gone, the game was still level, so Farina went for the attacking substitution.
Marcinho's overhead attempt at goal brought about the penalty in the 67th minute. Karl Dodd blocked the shot with his arms raised instinctively to protect his face. Referee Breeze ruled handball.
Reinaldo calmly slotted the penalty into the left corner of the goal. And then did it again, as Breeze ordered a re-take.
A goal to the good, Queensland relaxed and began to play even better football.
Zullo and Kruse nearly worked a second goal, but Glen Moss made a magnificent save from Kruse's first-time volley.
The second goal came after an interchange between Kruse and McKay down the right touchline. McKay's pinpoint cutback was just right for the backheel flick finish from Reinaldo.
Zullo was the provider again for the third goal, darting around the fullback like a kid on a skateboard avoiding a concrete bollard, and then delivering an inch-perfect cross to the feet of Marcinho.
Marcinho calmly evaded a diving Phoenix defender and placed the ball past Moss.
At the press conference afterwards, Farina was happy with the win, but continually qualified it as being against 10 men. No cause for getting carried away in Farina's eyes.
Farina is happy to leave that to the Roar fans, who are happy as well. With Murdocca's form rising to the same level as Matt McKay, and Marcinho finding some spark in his game as well, Queensland might not miss Michael Zullo too much as he departs for Olyroo duty this week.
The premiers are next up for the Roar. Hopefully a bumper crowd (more than the 13,808 who showed up on a drizzly Sunday afternoon for this game) will welcome Muscat's men to the Roar's Den on Friday night.