Adelaide United’s three-match winning streak has ended following a 2-1 loss to Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium.
Ben Halloran opened the scoring after half-time with a thumping half-volley drive, but two goals in six minutes from Mirza Muratovic and Tom Aldred secured the comeback victory for Roar.
Stefan Mauk made his first appearance since returning to the Reds incidentally against his former team, replacing the injured Nathan Konstandopoulos. Kristian Opseth was the focal point of attack with George Blackwood missing with a calf complaint as Gertjan Verbeek made two forced changes to the side that defeated Melbourne City last weekend.
It was a predominantly uneventful first-half in torrential conditions.
Adelaide showed promise going forward but lacked the final ball and also struggled to test Roar goalkeeper, Jamie Young.
Riley McGree and Mauk both looked tidy in possession and appeared to already demonstrate signs of a telepathic understanding as they occupied spaces between the lines.
Louis D’Arrigo saw a deflected effort loop over the bar and Kristian Opseth had two decent chances but he was unable to apply the finish.
The hosts dominated the latter stages of the first-half after Dylan Wenzel-Halls’ fourth minute sighter which flashed wide of Paul Izzo.
Izzo’s blushes were spared when he fumbled Macauley Gillesphey’s long-range shot through his legs, though fortunately the ball trickled wide of the upright just before the break.
Adelaide were slow out of the blocks to begin the second-half and had to absorb an enormous amount of pressure.
However, United broke the deadlock somewhat against the run of play when Halloran fired a stunning half-volley past Young on 58 minutes.
The ball dropped to the onrushing winger and he composed himself with a quick first touch and unleashed a venomous hit for his fourth goal in his past four matches.
Adelaide’s intensity abated as Brisbane pushed for an equaliser and they got their reward through substitute Muratovic 10 minutes later.
After a goal-mouth scramble, which included a saving Jordan Elsey tackle and a goal-line block from Ryan Kitto, Muratovic bounced a volley into the ground and beyond Izzo.
In the 74th minute, the Roar grabbed the lead in contentious circumstances thanks to Aldred’s back-post header from a short corner.
However, the initial corner should not have even been given with replays suggesting the final touch came off a Brisbane shirt.
Adelaide pushed for an equaliser and Verbeek turned to 15-year-old Mohamed Toure, who was introduced on 81 minutes to become the second youngest Reds player to make his debut and exhibited his raw potential with a few impressive moves to dribble past his opponents.
Despite Adelaide’s endeavour they could not find a way to restore parity and suffered their first loss to Queensland outfit in five games.
Key moments:
58’ | GOAL! The ball falls to Halloran and on the run takes a touch to set himself before arrowing a half-volley from outside the box into the bottom corner.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6130734871001
68’ | GOAL: Muratovic levels things up following an initial goal-mouth scramble.
74’ | GOAL: Aldred heads in at the back post after a short corner routine.
Match details:
Saturday, 8 February 2020
Hyundai A-League 2019/20 Season – Round 18
Brisbane Roar 2 (Muratovic 68’ Aldred 74’)
Adelaide United 1 (Halloran 58’)
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
