Melbourne Heart FC were made to rue missed chances as Brisbane Roar inflicted a 3-0 defeat on the Red and White at Suncorp Stadium in the Hyundai A-League this afternoon.
Melbourne Heart FC were made to rue missed chances as Brisbane Roar inflicted a 3-0 defeat on the Red and White at Suncorp Stadium in the Hyundai A-League this afternoon.
A second-half double from Brisbane-s Henrique and a late goal from Matt Smith did the damage after Melbourne created numerous chances in the first half, but failed to convert.
It was ultimately a tale of two halves, with Melbourne Heart emerging out of the blocks at a high tempo, taking the game to the Mike Mulvey-s side, which struggled to contain the Red and White-s high pressing tactics.
Melbourne Heart started with one change from last week-s starting line-up, with Jeremy Walker coming in for the injured Jason Hoffman and there was renewed vigour and energy from the Red and White from the opening whistle.
The Red and White looked intent on causing the home side headaches and almost snatched the lead when Iain Ramsay latched onto a clever through-ball, but steered his shot just wide of the target in the sixth minute.
Brisbane had few answers in the opening exchanges as Maltese international Michael Mifsud went inches from opening his Melbourne Heart account in the 12th minute, flashing a low shot agonisingly wide of Brisbane-s upright.
Ramsay then curled a free-kick just wide of Michael Theo in the Roar goal, narrowly missing the target in the 14th minute, before Patrick Gerhardt-s header also threatened in the 23rd minute.
Roar popped up with a rare chance in the 25th minute, with Matt McKay shooting across the face of goal, while Thomas Broich also tried his luck from distance 13 minutes before the interval.
But Melbourne Heart continued to create the better chances and Andrea Migliorini-s dipping free-kick on the stroke of half time – which forced an awkward save from Theo – saw Melbourne Heart enter the break as the more threatening side.
In the second period Brisbane emerged from the dressing room a changed team and within seconds of the restart, Henrique forced a superb stop from Redmayne.
With Heart on the back foot early in the second half, it took just two minutes for Henrique to bury the game-s opening goal after a quickly worked corner and clever ball from Luke Bratton.
Henrique was later thwarted again by Redmayne, but Melbourne nearly pinched an equaliser as Ramsay rocketed a thunderous strike onto Theo-s crossbar on the hour mark.
Five minutes later Henrique gave Melbourne a mountain to climb, sending in the second goal of the match, despite a hint of offside.
Melbourne Heart didn-t give up, as Mifsud then broke onto a clever through-ball from Mate Dugandzic, but Mifsud-s low left-footed strike flashed the wrong side of Theo-s goal.
In the 77th minute, Brisbane sealed the result as Smith turned in a quick passing move involving McKay to give the home side all three points.
Melbourne Heart have a five-day turnaround before their next match as they welcome Western Sydney Wanderers to AAMI Park on Friday 8 November.
Match Details
Sunday 3 November 2013
Hyundai A-League Round Four?
Brisbane Roar 3 (Henrique 48-, 65-, Smith 77-)
Melbourne Heart FC 0?
Suncorp Stadium
Referee: Lucien LAVERDURE
Attendance: 15,011
Melbourne Heart FC Starting XI: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 2. Jeremy WALKER, 3. Robbie WIELAERT, 6. Patrick GERHARDT, 7. Iain RAMSAY (14. Golgol MEBRAHTU 78-), 8. Massimo MURDOCCA, 11. Michael MIFSUD, 15. David WILLIAMS, 16. Aziz BEHICH, 23. Mate DUGANDZIC (28. Paolo RETRE 88-), 25. Andrea MIGLIORINI (21. Stefan MAUK 69-)
Substitutes not used: 20. Tando VELAPHI, 18. David VRANKOVIC
Yellow Cards: Andrea MIGLIORINI 37-, Massimo MURDOCCA 44-, Robbie WIELAERT 66-, Stefan MAUK 70-
Red Cards: Nil
Brisbane Roar Starting XI: 1. Michael THEO (GK), 2. Matt SMITH, 5. Ivan FRANJIC, 10. HENRIQUE (28. Brandon BORELLO 74-), 13. Jade NORTH, 17. Matt McKAY 18. Luke BRATTAN (14. Diogo FERREIRA 79-), 19. Jack HINGERT, 22. Thomas BROICH, 26. Corey BROWN, 29. Kwame YEBOAH (23. Dimitri PETRATOS 64-),
Substitutes not used: 20. Matt ACTON (GK), 15. James DONACHIE
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
