Brisbane Roar has made a sensational finish to their Foxtel National Youth League season, disposing of Melbourne Victory 5-1 at AAMI Park on Friday.
Brisbane took the initiative and found the back of the net early through Dane Ingham, who rounded Lucas Spinella before tapping the ball into an empty goal.
Spinella continued to be kept busy by Nicholas D’Agostino, who forced the Victory custodian into a brave save from close range, before making him parry over the bar not long after.
A Damien Miskulin slide tackle was adjudged to have been a back pass by the referee, which provided the Roar with an indirect free kick only a handful of metres out.
Spinella came to his side’s rescue once again with an outstanding save from inside the six-yard area.
Melbourne reacted quickly and would have equalised but for the heriocs of the Roar goalkeeper on a number of occasions.
He initially denied John Maclean’s fierce blast with a fingertip save, while Victory captain Joey Katebian was the next to be frustrated after his deft lob was cleared away.
Katebian then set off on a run down the left side that eventually saw him pick out Maclean at the back post. His strike across goal was kicked away with a flailing right foot from Brisbane’s number one.
Maclean eventually broke through from a similar position, seeing his effort soar into the goal just prior to half time.Â
The visitors gained the upper hand midway through the second stanza. Jesse Daley connected perfectly to a cut-back from the right, before D’Agostino added the Roar’s third with a thumping header.
D’Agostino was at it again, adding his second, courtesy of a stuning strike from a standing start. Mitch Hore chimed in seconds from time to add further gloss to his team’s win.
The Big V will now look forward to its opening PlayStation 4 NPL Victoria match against Northcote City on February 20.
Melbourne Victory 1 (Maclean 45′)
Brisbane Roar 5 (Ingham 2′, Daley 66′, D’Agostino 80′, 88′, Hore 90+2′)
