Late Goal Gives Roar 1-nil Win Over Sydney FC

A heartbreaking 89th minute goal to Sergio Van Dijk has given the Brisbane Roar a 1-nil win over Sydney FC at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

In an entertaining match, the Sky Blues were left to rue a number of missed chances in both halves of the match while the Roar owe much of their win to the goalkeeping heroics of keeper Matt Ham.

Sydney FC sit in third spot on the Hyundai A-League table on 42 points and now turn their attention to the crucial home match against Perth Glory at Parramatta Stadium on Sunday 7 February.

“We are very disappointed. It is like déjà vu against Brisbane and conceding a late goal but we can be happy with the way we played,” coach Vitezslav Lavicka said.

“Football is cruel. The first half we had many chances and didn-t punish our opponent. They had one chance and that was enough for them.

“We might be disappointed but we will move forward. We now have two very big home games against Perth and Melbourne.”

Sydney FC started the better of the two sides and almost had a goal within the first minute through John Aloisi. A long ball from defender Simon Colosimo was well flicked to Karol Kisel by Brosque, before Kisel-s pass found Aloisi, who-s right foot shot flew over the top of goal.

The Sky Blues continued to dominate with Aloisi and Brosque each getting chances to put the travelling team ahead, forcing a series of good saves from Ham.

The Roar almost snatched the lead in the 20th minute when Tommy Oar showed off his electric speed to find space before unleashing a curling long range shot that hit the post.

Brosque and Aloisi continued to create chances up front for the rest of the first stanza and received strong support from defender Stephan Keller, whose aerial dominance caused the Roar a number of headaches, but the Roar held on and scores were locked at 0-0 at the break.It was the Roar who started the second half as Sydney did the first, creating a number of chances and putting the Sydney FC defence under pressure which resulted in yellow cards to Kellar and Shannon Cole.

After fumbling a Sydney FC cross that allowed Steve Corica to blast a shot at goal, Ham managed to keep Sydney at bay, first saving that shot before getting a touch on a second attempt from Corica.

Terry McFlynn continued his strong game with a nice cross to Brosque in the 58th minute, but his header was again saved by Ham.

Defender Sung Hwan Byun, who received the ball in space from another excellent McFlynn pass, had a chance to score his first goal for the club but pushed it wide.

The Sky Blues had a handful of chances to strike the first blow, firstly in the 62nd minute when the ball rolled past an empty Brisbane goal face and then in the 72nd minute when Aloisi had his impressive bicycle kick saved by Ham.

Oar and Michael Zullo were both denied by Sky Blues keeper Clint Bolton in the 76th and 77th minutes respectively as each side pressed the other.

As the game looked to be finishing in a stalemate, Van Dijk struck when the ball fell at the feet of Luke DeVere after Bolton punched it away. DeVere-s shot flicked off Van Dijk and went in at the far post.

Sydney FC: 0
Brisbane Roar: 1 (Sergio VAN DIJK 89-)

Sydney FC Line-up: 1. Clint BOLTON (gk), 3. Stephan KELLER, 4.Simon COLOSIMO, 6. Karol KISEL, 8. Stuart MUSIALIK, 9. John ALOISI, 10. Steve CORICA (c) (Rhyan GRANT 77-), 12. Shannon COLE (26. Hayden FOXE 90- + 1), 14. Alex BROSQUE (6. Chris PAYNE 80-), 15. Terry MCFLYNN, 19. Mark BRIDGE, 22. Sung-Hwan BYUN.

Substitutes Not Used: 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk)

Yellow Cards: Stephan KELLER 46-, Shannon COLE 50-, Simon COLOSIMO 90- + 3,
Red Cards: Nil
Goals: Nil

Brisbane Roar Line-up: 1. Matt HAM (gk), 3. Luke DEVERE, 4. Peter COLLEN, 7. Michael ZULLO, 9. Sergio VAN DIJK, 10. Stevens BRYCE (13. HENRIQUE 61-), 11. REINALDO, 14. Adam SAROTA, 15. Matt MCKAY (c), 21. Tommy OAR (17. Mitch NICHOLS 89-), 27. Peter FRANJIC (6. David DODD 65-)

Substitutes Not Used: 20. Griffin MCMASTER (gk)

Yellow Cards: Michael ZULLO 55-,
Red Cards: Nil
Goals: Sergio VAN DIJK