Adelaide United have suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
Eric Bautheac’s sublime free-kick in the first-half ultimately proved decisive in what was a fairly even contest in extremely humid conditions.
There was just the one alteration made to the starting XI by Head Coach, Marco Kurz – an enforced change. Ersan Gülüm returned from suspension to replace Taylor Regan after he accrued his fifth yellow card last weekend.
Meanwhile, versatile defender, Tarek Elrich, appeared on the bench for the first time in nearly a year after overcoming a serious knee injury. Johan Absalonsen was also amongst the substitutes for the second consecutive week.
It took a while for the match to come to life and it was the hosts who had the first genuine opening.
Veteran Massimo Maccarone wasted a golden opportunity to put the Roar ahead after 21 minutes, before Adelaide had a couple of decent efforts of their own.
Jordan O’Doherty superbly dribbled past a couple of players and made space for himself but could not generate enough power to trouble Jamie Young.
While the Reds largely controlled the tempo, it was Brisbane who remained threatening on the break.
And they took full advantage when Fahid Ben Khalfallh was fouled following an incisive counter-attack as Bautheac scored the ensuing free-kick.
Adelaide pushed for an equaliser during the second-half and should have levelled proceedings after Nikola Mileusnic saw his wonderful chance saved.
Brisbane continued to look dangerous in transition, but could not add to their lead though it did not matter as the Reds endured back-to-back defeats for the first time since Round 6.
Key moments:
21’ | Thomas Kristensen releases Fahid Ben Khalfallah and his cross finds Maccarone but he uncharacteristically volleys wide of the target from six yards out.
23’ | Isaías speculatively tries his luck from distance but his strike sails over the crossbar.
29’ | O’Doherty marauds forward before his tame effort at the top of the box fails to test gloveman Young.
30’ | Maccarone again squanders a clear-cut chance, but in fairness was put off by defender Jordan Elsey.
41’ | Bautheac expertly slots his close-range free-kick from inside the D leaving no Paul Izzo no chance.
54’ | The Reds counter quickly from a Roar corner which sees O’Doherty feed Mileusnic but cannot finish his one-on-one effort past Young.
72’ | An isolated Corey Gameiro manages to create space for himself and unleashes a curling left-footed shot off target.
Match details:
Saturday, 3 March 2018
Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Season – Round 22
Brisbane Roar 1 (Bautheac 41’)
Adelaide United 0
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
