Brisbane Roar have missed another chance to move ahead in the battle for third spot on the A-League ladder after an upset 2-1 defeat to Wellington Phoenix.
Despite dropping three players - including key import Roly Bonevacia - for breaching team standards, the Phoenix were in perfect harmony on Saturday as they took full advantage of a flat and depleted Roar outfit with an impressive display.
More Sports HQ Videos
- Video duration
- 01:26
Wellington stun Brisbane
Wellington stun Brisbane
Goals in either half from Shane Smeltz and Roy Krishna were enough to get the Phoenix past the Roar in Brisbane.
Up Next
QLD claim Origin II after stunning finish
- Video duration
- 01:30
- Video duration
- 01:30
QLD claim Origin II after stunning finish
QLD claim Origin II after stunning finish
Queensland have levelled the State of Origin series after a 18-16 victory over New South Wales in game two.
Up Next
Thurston calls time on Origin career
- Video duration
- 01:08
- Video duration
- 01:08
Thurston calls time on Origin career
Thurston calls time on Origin career
Queensland and North Queensland Cowboys five-eighth Johnathan Thurston will undergo shoulder surgery, ending his State of Origin career and ruling him out for the rest of the NRL season.
Up Next
Woods seeks help to manage painkiller use
- Video duration
- 01:21
- Video duration
- 01:21
Woods seeks help to manage painkiller use
Woods seeks help to manage painkiller use
Former world No.1 golfer Tiger Woods released a statement on Twitter saying he's seeking professional help to manage his use of pain medication.
Up Next
Blight officially becomes a legend
- Video duration
- 01:58
- Video duration
- 01:58
Blight officially becomes a legend
Blight officially becomes a legend
The sum total of a 40-year career sees Malcolm Blight officially receive legend status in the AFL Hall of Fame.
Up Next
The NSW Origin team's origins
- Video duration
- 00:49
- Video duration
- 00:49
The NSW Origin team's origins
The NSW Origin team's origins
Where in the state does each member of the New South Wales Origin team hail from?
Up Next
Storm win golden point cracker
- Video duration
- 01:30
- Video duration
- 01:30
Storm win golden point cracker
Storm win golden point cracker
The Melbourne Storm overcame the Cowboys in a golden point thriller.
Up Next
Port smash Lions
- Video duration
- 01:25
- Video duration
- 01:25
Port smash Lions
Port smash Lions
Port Adelaide improved from their 70 point defeat the round previous to smash the Brisbane Lions.
Wellington stun Brisbane
Goals in either half from Shane Smeltz and Roy Krishna were enough to get the Phoenix past the Roar in Brisbane.
The victory is Wellington's first after three consecutive defeats, only their second ever at Suncorp Stadium and sees them leapfrog Newcastle into seventh spot on the ladder ahead of Sunday's F3 Derby.
The Roar, who were backing up from midweek AFC Champions League duty, could have closed to within six points of Melbourne Victory had they prevailed after third- placed Melbourne City's 3-1 loss to Sydney FC.
Instead, John Aloisi's side have now gone without a win in their last four matches ahead of a tough trip to South Korea to face Ulsan Hyundai on Tuesday night.
Brisbane welcomed back skipper Matt McKay and Thomas Kristensen from injury but it appeared their heavy recent schedule finally caught up with them in front of 10,723 fans.
They had the same amount of shots on goal as the Phoenix but the best of their chances were either blocked by defenders or snuffed out by gloveman Glen Moss.
Wearing No.99, veteran striker Shane Smeltz opened the scoring with his 99th national league goal just after the half-hour mark, stunning a flat-footed Roar defence.
Smeltz drifted from his marker and headed a perfect Adam Parkhouse cross straight into the bottom corner, giving goalkeeper Michael Theo no chance.
Roy Krishna made it 2-0 in the 61st minute, sweeping in a cutback from Kosta Barbarouses.
The in-form Brandon Borrello got one back for Brisbane with a wicked first-time curling shot from the edge of the box in the 75th minute but despite a late rally, they couldn't find an equaliser.
AAP
0 comments
New User? Sign up