The Queensland Roar have gotten off to a flying start in the A-League after defeating the New Zealand Knights 2-0 at Lang Park. The twenty thousand plus fans were treated to an open attacking game of football, with goal scoring chances from both sides in abundance throughout the match.
The tone for the game was set straight from the kick off as the Roar pushed wide to try and stretch the packed Knights defence. In only the second minute Massimo Murdocca got wide down the right and delivered a great ball to Remo Buess, who shot high and wide.
With Roar pushing forward in number the Knights looked dangerous on the counter attack, and in the 5th minute Chad Gibson's clearance header almost looped over Thomas Willis' head and into the Roar goal.
The first twenty minutes was filled with frantic football and some superb interchange of passing from the Roar. Jonathon Richter was given plenty of space wide on the right, but he only managed to put two or three good balls into the area, all of which were wasted.
The Knights were also guilty of wasting good chances with Joshua Rose and Sean Devine the guilty parties.
As the game wore on the Knights defenders were dropping further and further back, giving the Roar a free run at goal. In the 25th minute a good run and cross down the right from Richter was met by the head of Matthew McKay, which just went wide of the goal.
The Roar were really starting to threaten the Knights. In the 28th minute Richter made a good run through the middle, turned his man and hit a good low shot, that was expertly saved by Danny Milosevic to his left.
In the 33rd minute some excellent exchanges from the Roar released Mackay on the left - Alex Brosque latched onto his cross but his glancing header went just wide of the upright.
With the half coming to a close, the players fitness levels dropped and the pace of the game began to slow. Both teams went into half-time feeling they could have added to the scoreboard, but happy with the way things were going.
The second half began much the same as the first, with the Roar attacking. Brosque ran through he middle in the 46th minute and his low shot went just wide of the goal.
New Zealand however began to come out of their shell and started to put some pressure on the Roar defenders, who at times looked a little shaky. In the 52nd minute Josh McGuire delivered a good ball to Sean Devine, who shot high and wide.
Yet the Roar still pushed players forward in search of a goal. Richter beat his defender once again, ran into the box and hit a shot, which Milosevic could only parry. Buess latched onto the follow up, but it sailed over the crossbar. In the 55th minute a long goal kick was controlled down by Brosque who found him self with acres of space, and from 35 yards out he hit a superb shot that swerved inches wide of the post.
The game began to heat up as both teams looked for an opener. Only a minute later, Joshua Rose beat two Roar defenders but had his shot well saved by former Young Socceroo Tom Willis. Moments later the Roar were up the other end and a poor backpass was almost punished as Baird hit his shot over the bar.
Miron Bleiberg began to get impatient with his team, and started to make changes. Dodd came off with an injury and was replaced by Warren Moon on the hour, Michael Baird come on for Brownlie and Mackay made way for Tae-Yong Shin.
It didn't take too long for Bleiberg's substitutes to have an impact. In the 70th minute Baird ran onto a ball down the right and played it inside to Brosque. Brosque brought it forward and hit a good shot that was saved by Milosevic, but he dropped the ball, and Jeremy Christie had to clear the ball for the Knights.
The 73rd minute was possibly the turning point of the match. John Tambouras had been a rock for the Knights at the back but he had to come off with cramps. With no recognized defenders on the bench John Adshead had to thrown on skilful midfielder Zenon Caravella, causing his team to reshuffle.
A minute later Brosque put in a superb ball to Richter inside the box. Milosevic charged at him, but Richter passed to the middle and Shin found himself with an open goal. However he misjudged the bounce and his attempt to control the ball with his chest almost forced the ball over the line, but for a last ditch clearance by Danny Hay.
The game was proving frustrating for the Roar as they were still unable to unlock the Knights defence. Still the Roar pushed on and in the 80th minute Baird ran through the middle straight at the Knights defence. He was tackled, but the ball fell to an inspired Alex Brosque, whose first time shot beat Milosevic and into the far corner of the goal, making the score 1-0 to the Roar.
It was a huge sigh of relief for Bleiberg and his team but they were not stopping there. Perhaps contrary to their coach's wishes, the Roar looked for a second to kill the game off.
In the 82nd minute Devine got above Willis to meet Bazeley's cross and headed into the goal. However the goal was disallowed as Devine was ruled to have fouled the Roar goalkeeper.
New Zealand pushed up in search of an eqauliser with Steve Fitzsimmons replacing Ronnie Bull.
In the 86th minute a Jeremy Christie backpass was latched onto by Michael Baird. He touched the ball pass the on rushing Milosevic and struck into and empty net, 2-0 to the Roar. The game was effectively over.
Roar coach Miron Bleiberg said after the game it was a day to remember and that there could have been more goals.
John Adshead said the loss of Tambouras was a massive blow to his team but they defended very well.
In the end the 20,750 fans in the stadium got what they come for, an open entertaining game with the Queensland Roar ending up winners.