Ange gets first win
A Sergio van Dijk brace has led Brisbane Roar to a drought-breaking 2-0 victory over Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium on Friday night.
Van Dijk took a successful penalty kick in the 35th minute before doubling the visitors' advantage with a blazing strike early in the second half.
The result sees the Roar replace the Reds in seventh spot on the ladder and keeps them in touch with the competition's other finals aspirants. It also hands Ange Postecoglou his first win as senior coach.
Brisbane was under siege in the first half until Scott Jamieson fouled Reinaldo with a body block in the right side of the box.
Van Dijk took the kick from the spot and sent the ball into the right hand corner of the net as goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic dived to his left.
A short David Dodd pass across the box set up van Dijk up for his second-half goal - he pulled the trigger from 10 metres and silenced the crowd.
The Roar could've gone even further in front in 63rd minute if the referee had deemed a Mitch Nichols strike a goal. Replays of his powerful attempt showed the ball had crossed the goal-line and should have been awarded.
For large chunks of play, Adelaide was the better side. It had plenty of scoring opportunities with a penalty kick by substitute Lloyd Owusu in the 70th minute the best one.
Owusu, who was gifted the opportunity after Luke Devere had been called for hand ball, sent the ball towards the right hand corner but a diving McMaster got a hand to it and deflected into the woodwork.
Earlier in the National Youth League, Adelaide United and Brisbane Roar played out an entertaining 2-2 draw.
The Reds came from behind to take a 2-1 lead and looked to have the three points in their keeping before confusion in the box saw the Roar's Tim Smits swoop on a loose ball and score the equaliser from close range in the 88th minute.
The Reds were outplayed in the first half and trailed after a composed and clever Jordan Farina scored in the 22nd minute.
Evan Kostopoulos bobbed up with his team's first goal early in the second half before Matthew Mullen converted from the spot to seemingly send Adelaide on its way to victory.