Both Brisbane Roar and Central Coast Mariners started the match brightly, with both teams intent on combatting their obvious defensive frailties by diving head-on into a fluid attacking game, hence the exorbitant 5-3 scoreline.

Eric Bautheac gave Brisbane the lead, but within two minutes of Alex Lopez doubling Roar's advantage, Connor Pain had struck back. Tobias Mikkelsen, Aiden O'Neill and Lopez then traded blows, before Dylan Wenzel-Halls sealed the deal for Brisbane.

Jordan Murray clinched a slight consolation on the 82nd minute, but the wooden spoon is all but decided. The Mariners, for all their huffing, puffing, half-time leads and promise of fight this season, can barely complain. Their defending simply isn't A-League quality.

"Crazy game, wasn't it?," Jem Karacan said. "We dominated the early stages but three goals...we can't keep shooting ourselves in the foot.

"I'm one of those that will try to keep the boys up. We'll keep fighting until the end, but it was a crazy game that can't happen. No excuses, we get back into it next week and go again. 

"(O'Neill) has been brilliant, Matt Simon fought for the cause, it seems like he and the referee have some history, but we're disappointed and it's happened too much this season."

New Roar recruit Ruon Tongyik was calm after victory, but there were a few glaring defensive issues on his side as well.

"It was a good game and a good battle, credit to Matt Simon, a good player and a tough battler," he said.

"We did very well, especially in the second half when we didn't concede. 

"Both teams at the bottom, trying to get back up, it was a battle because both teams required the three points.

"I'm enjoying it very much, I'm loving it - the boys have made me feel really welcome."