O'Donovan hat-trick completes stunning Roar comeback after Maclaren treble
Roy O'Donovan's 33-minute hat-trick saw Brisbane Roar complete an incredible turnaround to beat Melbourne City 4-3 and ignite their Hyundai A-League season.
Brisbane had not scored five hours of Hyundai A-League football and trailed City 2-0 at half time after Jamie Maclaren's double, but twice overcame that two goal deficit to earn Robbie Fowler his first league win as Roar boss on a breathless afternoon in Redcliffe.
O'Donovan got Brisbane up and running early in the second half only for Maclaren, who was returning from a two-week injury layoff, to net his third of the evening and seventh goal of the campaign a mere 60 seconds later to re-establish City's two goal buffer.
But Fowler's side rallied not once, twice but three times to leave Erick Mombaerts' side floored.
Aaron Amadi-Holloway made it 3-2 with a diving header at the back post and when the Welsh attacker was felled inside the box by Rostyn Griffiths three minutes later, O'Donovan made no mistake from the penalty spot.
The comeback was complete when O'Donovan won and converted another spot-kick on 83 minutes to seal a remarkable turnaround.
Key moments
Maclaren scores with second touch
He had two weeks off with a hamstring concern but it was like the Caltex Socceroo had never been away when he stroked City ahead on six minutes.
Harrison Delbridge picked out Javier Cabrera with a lovely raking pass from the back, and after the Uruguayan spotted Maclaren running off the shoulder of Tom Aldred, the Hyundai A-League's top scorer took a touch and fired past Max Crocombe for the early advantage.
O'Donovan gives Roar hope
Brisbane entered the second half on the front foot and their approach paid dividends when Roy O'Donovan latched onto Jay O'Shea's ball, caught the City defence napping and clipped it past City 'keeper Dean Bouzanis.
That was Roar's first goal since the Irishman's stoppage time equaliser against Perth Glory in Round 1.
Maclaren secures a treble
O'Donovan had given Brisbane hope but it was cut short less than 60 seconds later through Maclaren's hat-trick clinching goal.
Cabrera was again the provider for the Caltex Socceroo, and the header from Maclaren was sublime once more.
Amadi-Holloway gets Roar back into it
Despite receiving what could very well have been a hammer blow in the form of Maclaren's third, Brisbane did not lie down.
And Fowler's men reduced the deficit to one when Amadi-Holloway put his body on the line to get Jai Ingham's header back across goal into the back of the net.
O'Donovan equalises
Having gone five hours without a Hyundai A-League goal, Brisbane had three inside 15 minutes.
Amadi-Holloway was fouled by Rostyn Griffiths inside the box, and O'Donovan made no mistake from the penalty spot.
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