QUEENSLAND Roar have missed out on next week's Pre-Season Cup Final slot after they went down to Adelaide United in a 3-2 thriller.
Frank Farina’s men will now take on Lawrie McKinna’s Central Coast Mariners next week at Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford in the 3rd/4th Place Play-Off while Adelaide and Perth will fight for the pre-season silverware.
Farina’s disappointment will be balanced with the knowledge that his travel-weary squad at least face a shorter away trip than if they had beaten United today, when another arduous journey to Western Australia would’ve been on the cards.
This afternoon’s loss at Hindmarsh Stadium was Roar’s first of 2007 but Farina will take heart from a battling performance and a promising pre-season campaign so far.
The visitors got off to the worst possible start when they were caught napping by some sharp thinking by Bruce Djite inside the first minute.
The Olyroo hopeful lifted the ball over stranded goalkeeper Liam Reddy and followed up to give his side the early lead.
Roar responded well and tried to force their way back in to the contest. Reinaldo was causing headaches for the United defence and his good work on the quarter hour drew the equaliser.
Capitalising on a loose ball, the big Brazilian mis-cued his strike at goal but Simon Lynch was sliding in and seized the chance for 1-1.
It was Lynch’s third strike in as many games and Roar fans will be heartened by the Scot’s current form in front of goal.
However, after an even first period, the home side regained the lead right on the stroke of half time when Bobby Petta sneaked between McCloughan and Ognenovski to nod home Cassio’s cross.
The second half started slowly for both sides but just after the hour mark the home side increased their advantage when Cassio left Reddy flat-footed with a superb free-kick from the edge of the box.
Farina’s men again responded and it was veteran striker Ante Milicic who reduced the deficit nine minutes later and kept the game alive as a contest.
It was a cool finish from Milicic after a one-two with Reinaldo and the goal gave Roar new impetus as they tried to force the equaliser.
Despite Roar’s late pressure United held on for the win and will host Perth Glory next week in the Pre-Season Cup final.
"There was a fair bit of pressure on us so they've done really well to hold out," said Adelaide coach Aurelio Vidmar.
"We got ourselves in a great position at 3-1 and then we a had a lot of numbers at the back there and then somehow Ante Milicic got his foot on the end of it after a good ball and put it into a bottom corner.
"It's sometimes hard to fathom, when you've got numbers in there, how someone can get a strike on goal but when they are chasing a fair period of that second half, sooner or later, something is going to have to fold and that's the way it was."
Queensland Roar:
1.Liam REDDY (gk), 5.Josh McCLOUGHAN, 9.Simon LYNCH (Milicic 59), 11.REINALDO da costa, 14.Ben GRIFFIN, 15.Matt McKAY, 16.Hyuk-Su SEO, 18.Danny TIATTO, 19.Sasa Ognenovski, 21.Chris GROSSMAN (McLaren 75), 23.MARCINHO (Nichols 59).
Subs not used: 24. Griffin McMASTER (gk).
Yellow cards: Tiatto, Grossman.
Red cards: none
Farina’s disappointment will be balanced with the knowledge that his travel-weary squad at least face a shorter away trip than if they had beaten United today, when another arduous journey to Western Australia would’ve been on the cards.
This afternoon’s loss at Hindmarsh Stadium was Roar’s first of 2007 but Farina will take heart from a battling performance and a promising pre-season campaign so far.
The visitors got off to the worst possible start when they were caught napping by some sharp thinking by Bruce Djite inside the first minute.
The Olyroo hopeful lifted the ball over stranded goalkeeper Liam Reddy and followed up to give his side the early lead.
Roar responded well and tried to force their way back in to the contest. Reinaldo was causing headaches for the United defence and his good work on the quarter hour drew the equaliser.
Capitalising on a loose ball, the big Brazilian mis-cued his strike at goal but Simon Lynch was sliding in and seized the chance for 1-1.
It was Lynch’s third strike in as many games and Roar fans will be heartened by the Scot’s current form in front of goal.
However, after an even first period, the home side regained the lead right on the stroke of half time when Bobby Petta sneaked between McCloughan and Ognenovski to nod home Cassio’s cross.
The second half started slowly for both sides but just after the hour mark the home side increased their advantage when Cassio left Reddy flat-footed with a superb free-kick from the edge of the box.
Farina’s men again responded and it was veteran striker Ante Milicic who reduced the deficit nine minutes later and kept the game alive as a contest.
It was a cool finish from Milicic after a one-two with Reinaldo and the goal gave Roar new impetus as they tried to force the equaliser.
Despite Roar’s late pressure United held on for the win and will host Perth Glory next week in the Pre-Season Cup final.
"There was a fair bit of pressure on us so they've done really well to hold out," said Adelaide coach Aurelio Vidmar.
"We got ourselves in a great position at 3-1 and then we a had a lot of numbers at the back there and then somehow Ante Milicic got his foot on the end of it after a good ball and put it into a bottom corner.
"It's sometimes hard to fathom, when you've got numbers in there, how someone can get a strike on goal but when they are chasing a fair period of that second half, sooner or later, something is going to have to fold and that's the way it was."
Queensland Roar:
1.Liam REDDY (gk), 5.Josh McCLOUGHAN, 9.Simon LYNCH (Milicic 59), 11.REINALDO da costa, 14.Ben GRIFFIN, 15.Matt McKAY, 16.Hyuk-Su SEO, 18.Danny TIATTO, 19.Sasa Ognenovski, 21.Chris GROSSMAN (McLaren 75), 23.MARCINHO (Nichols 59).
Subs not used: 24. Griffin McMASTER (gk).
Yellow cards: Tiatto, Grossman.
Red cards: none
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