John Aloisi named his strongest side available with Brett Holman a welcome sight back into the starting line-up whilst Ceres who are still in pre-season, named a well travelled side who had varying levels of experience across Asia and Europe. They had done a lot of travel of late too, with their last qualifier in Myanmar going into extra-time before arriving in Australia via their home country.

In a first ever Roar professional fixture at the QSAC, it was Brisbane who found themselves largely on the backfoot in the opening stages. Ceres-Negros pressed high and played with significant calm for a side two weeks into their pre-season.

After Brisbane took the lead it was all Ceres-Negros who came back with three goals of their own, before a late consolation goal to Eric Bautheac meant the final score was 2-3.

It will be a long and painful interrogation into this one…

BRISBANE ROAR

Jamie Young – 5

Well beaten for all three goals. Found out of position for the second in a very uncharacteristic performance.

Dane Ingham – 6

The youngster tried to get involved and get forward and he used his size in defence very well. Not a bad effort in a rare start.

Avram Papadopoulos – 4

Lethargic and wasn’t where he needed to be. As the game went on started hacking around when he was clearly beaten.

Daniel Bowles – 5

Used his height to advantage but was booked for a bad foul and Aloisi didn’t want to risk going down to 10, so was subbed at half-time in favour of Jade North.

Jack Hingert – 5

Had Ingreso and Ott to deal with and they got the better of him a few times. Left Maranon unmarked for the equalizer. Withdrawn for the attacking option of Shannon Brady with 15 minutes to go.

Mitchell Oxborrow – 4

Patrolled the middle of the park but couldn’t get the ball in between the lines and didn’t have an effect on the game at all.

Matt McKay – 4

Gave the ball away needlessly in midfield. Outclassed by the Filipino side who ran rings around him.

Ivan Franjic – 6

Almost had a cross turned in for an own goal on 22 minutes. Later clashed with Super Herrera before putting in a wonderful left footed cross to the back post allowing Eric Bautheac to drive it home.

Brett Holman – 6

Simplest of assists after Khalfallah played him through but in all honesty should have scored himself earlier when he was almost standing over the goal-line but left the ball to bounce to Toni Doblas. Subbed at half-time on his return to the starting line-up.

Fahid Ben-Khalfallah – 6.5

Definitely the hosts most creative outlet in the opening half and his dink to Brett Holman helped open the scoring. Went missing a bit in the second half.

Massimo Maccarone – 6

Tapped in at the back-post on 35 minutes to open the scoring but wasn’t provided with nearly enough opportunities from his midfield.

SUBS

Eric Bautheac – 6

Looked lively from the get go when brought on at half-time. Was the victim of the story of the night when he spent close to give minutes off the pitch as his Jersey number fell off, and Brisbane didn’t have an appropriate replacement. He got back on, as he drove home his side’s second goal but he looked defeated after the farce he had to deal with.

Jade North – 5

Couldn’t provide the defensive solidarity that Aloisi was hoping for in the second half.

Shannon Brady – 5

Given the job of trying to get his side a result after going down 3-1. Couldn’t effect any change despite stretching the legs out a few times.

CERES-NEGROS

Toni Doblas – 7

The journeyman shot-stopper didn’t have a lot to deal with but punched away a lot of attempts to keep the ball away from the box.

Junior Munoz – 6.5

Stuck on the right and had a challenge in Fahid Ben Khalfallah. Held his own and was subbed late in the game.

Manuel ‘Super’ Herrera – 7

Key interception to stop a wicked cross from Franjic. Headed down to Maranon who finished the job from a late first half corner. Got involved in a fracas with Franjic but overall had a great game.

Carlos de Murga – 7.5

The Captain led by example and stopped many a Brisbane attack. He was strong, confident and assured.

Jeffrey Christiaens – 6

The left back provided Mike Ott with plenty of ball and as the game went on he got further forward to join in attack.

Kevin Ingreso – 7

Started with a strong challenge that went unpunished. Later delivered the corner that sealed the win for his side after Omid Nazari banged it in for their third.

Mike Ott – 7.5

The diminutive midfielder troubled the Roar defence and eventually laid off a lovely inside ball to Maranon to put the visitors ahead.

Stephan Schrock – 8.5

Broke down the right in good early runs and showed up some opposition defenders. Popped up on the left and put it on a plate for Nazari to tap in but he couldn’t get anything on it. A fantastic overall performance, would not be out of place in higher-reputation leagues. 

Bienvenido Maranon – 8.5

olden boot in the league in the Philippines last season and got a lot of the ball in the early stages before it fell to him from a Super (the player) header. Made no mistake and put the ball over the line to draw his side level. His highlight though was the magnificent goal curled around Jamie Young and into the corner of the goal to put Ceres up 2-1. Subbed in the dying stages for a well earnt rest.

OJ Porteria – 6.5

Pressed high and hard, forced a lot of mistakes from the opposition holding midfielders but didn’t get many chances on the ball.

Omid Nazari – 7

Got free of the defence and should have tapped in after 17 minutes but he was unable to connect with Schrock’s through ball. Made up for it when he finished off a sloppy Roar clearance and booked his side a spot in the next round of qualifying versus Tianjin Quanjian.

SUBS

Takumi Uesato – N/A

Brought on with five minutes to go. Not enough time to give a fair score

Sean Kane – N/A

Not enough time to give a fair score