The Melbourne heart have recorded just their
second win this season, defeating defending champions Brisbane Roar 4-1 on a
wet night at AAMI Park.
In an 11 minute scoring blitz, the Heart put 3
goals behind Brisbane goalkeeper Michael Theo, to all but seal victory in the
73rd minute.
The Heart were simply too good for a Brisbane
side that lacked enthusiasm and attacking flare without their star striker
Besart Berisha.
The Melbourne side
looked the more convincing in the early stages of the game and were rewarded in
the 20th minute. A flat cross from Mate Dugandzic just outside the 18-yard box
provided the opening goal for Patrick Gerhardt. A sliding near post finish from
the import put the home side in front to lead 1-0.
Brisbane dominated
possession in the later stages of the first half and thought to have equalised
just 5 minutes out from half time. A sliding Mitch Nickols cross saw Henriques
guide the ball into the back of the net, only for the goal to be disallowed.
The linesman ruling on a controversial incorrect goal kick.
In a second half
that saw possession dominated by the roar, it was yet again the Heart who
scored first. A cool finish in the 62nd minute
by striker Richard Garcia had the home side in a commanding position.
Roar defender Matt
German gifted the heart a penalty kick 8 minutes later, all but ending any
chance of a Brisbane comeback. Josip Tadic steering the ball into the right
hand side of the net to have the Heart leading 3-0.
David Williams
capped off the night with a composed finish in the 73rd minute,
curling the ball around the goalkeeper to hand his side a well-earned victory.
A simple tap in
goal to Henriques in the 81st minute
nothing but a consolation goal for the Roar.
The victory places
the Heart in 5th position, while
Brisbane ironically are at the bottom of the table having only recorded one win
in six games this season.
