Brisbane Roar 4-1 Wellington Phoenix: Inspirational Oar Dismantles Nix

Tommy Oar has inspired Brisbane Roar to a 4-1 victory over the in-form Wellington Phoenix at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday Night in front a small crowd of 6307.

Oar was instrumental, as he beat Manny Muscat down the left-hand side on numerous occasions, before dishing up a number of brilliantly weighted crosses for Reinaldo and Sergio Van Dijk to salivate over.

Reinaldo was able to score a goal in each half, while Phoenix forward Chris Greenacre scored in the first half to level the scores at 1-1. A red card for a high elbow ended Muscat’s night early, as Van Dijk and David Dodd secured the points with late goals.

Brisbane began well, with Oar beating Manny Muscat on the wing before playing in Sergio Van Dijk with a stellar ball.

The Dutchman’s shot hit the post as the Phoenix breathed an early sigh of relief, having survived the first of many butchered chances instigated by the young left winger.

Minutes later and to the delight of Postecoglou two of the players that returned for Brisbane were involved in the opening goal.

Charlie Miller, wheeled by some lacklustre defending in midfield before giving Oar time and space, which was used to pick out the head of Van Dijk at the back post.

Crowther miraculously pushed the ball away but into the path of Reinaldo who headed home from point blank range to send a confidence-deprived home side to the lead.

The Nix managed to control the pace of the match despite conceding early and it was their perseverance that saw them equalise soon after. From a short corner, a Leo Bertos cross picked out Greenacre who climbed high without being contested by any Roar defender.

The Englishman was given every chance to place the ball past McMaster and he made no mistake, aiming low and hard as the Roar defence questioned each other about who was meant to be marking the goal-scorer.

It could have easily been a second for the Phoenix if it hadn’t been for a fantastic Griffin McMaster save. A glorious Daniel ball gave Greenacre a chance to double his account for the night but McMaster came out from the goal-mouth to save the shot with one-hand above his head, single-handedly keeping his side in the encounter.

The Phoenix was well and truly on top as the game moved toward half-time. A stinging Ifill shot, had to be saved off the chest of McMaster who did well under pressure. The shot-stopper was doing his all to maintain the deadlock, even if he his keeping looked unconvincing at times.

In a sign that the Roar weren’t perturbed, Oar handed Van Dijk another golden opportunity. Inside the area, a ball was slid behind the Wellington defence, but it was desperate defending from Durante and Sigmund that saved the day for the visitors.

Oar, only 17 years of age, continued to run rings around Manny Muscat, this time delivering another superb cross to defender Andrew Packer who only had to head the ball on target to score.

But the only celebrations came from Crowther who had been beaten pointlessly out of position by the accuracy of the winger’s pass as Packer made a complete meal of an otherwise perfect example of what the Roar can provide in attack.

Immediately after the break, Wellington went close to striking the front. A long, clearing Crowther ball was flicked into the path of Ifill by Greenacre. Ifill’s shot narrowly went past McMaster’s near post, as Brisbane’s central defence continued to struggle.

Luke De Vere had been relatively quiet until he won possession against the in form Daniel. The young defender broke from defence as the Roar employed the counter.

Miller received a pass from De Vere before his first time ball to Reinaldo gave the Brazilian a one-on-one chance. Having already scored once, and clearly enjoying the feeling, he beat Crowther again with a shot aimed for the bottom corner of the net.

The match had well and truly been turned on its head when a frustrated Muscat used his elbow to deny Oar another break down the left-hand side.

Again Muscat was on the receiving end but this time from the referee – a red card, meaning that Wellington would have to come from behind in the final half-hour, with a numerical disadvantage.

Buoyed by an involvement in both his team’s goals, Miller was beginning to find form and seized upon a deflection in a dangerous position to try and put the result beyond doubt. He played in a loose Packer, whose pass to Reinaldo was good enough to give the forward a chance at his hat trick but the shot was scuffed.

With one-less man on the pitch and both teams still chasing goals, the game opened up in the last twenty minutes. Reinaldo was denied his third by Crowther as defender Ben Sigmund tried to lift his Wellington teammates with a shot that was saved by McMaster.

Phoenix substitute Troy Hearfield came on and he tried have influence in attack. His work forced McMaster under pressure as Ifill’s header tried to exploit the poor positioning of the ‘keeper.

The result was put beyond doubt when Van Dijk netted from a free kick. Ben Sigmund fouled a dangerous Miller on the edge of the area before the Dutch born striker curled the ball into the top-left hand corner with a well-hit strike.

With Brisbane dominating possession as the game meandered to a close, Mitch Nichols and David Dodd, both substitutes, combined to score a goal; with the latter shooting a ball that went under the legs of Crowther as the Roar put the icing on the cake.

With the win the Roar keeps their playoff hopes alive, while Wellington was brought back down to earth with a thud.