The Wanderers have suffered a 3-1 loss to Brisbane Roar in their Hyundai A-League game at Suncorp Stadium tonight, ending a four match unbeaten streak.
Wanderers inspirational captain Mitchell Duke scored his 11th goal of the season – and his fifth in five games in succession – to make it 2-1 and put the Red & Black into the game in the 54th minute but it was all in vain as the home side took all three points.
The Wanderers went into the game minus Daniel Georgievski (suspended) and the injured Bruce Kamau with Tate Russell and Mathieu Cordier coming in.
It was a tough first 45 minutes for the Wanderers, who found themselves 2-0 down at half time.
The home side started strongly, opening the scoring after just four minutes after Scott McDonald took advantage of a scramble in the penalty area to poke the ball into the net.
Western Sydney struggled to get any traction as the Roar pressed hard and forced them into errors.
Wanderers goalkeeper Daniel Lopar was kept busy and was forced to make two superb saves in the 20th and 22nd minutes.
The Red & Black had their best chance on 36 minutes when Duke was allowed too much room on the edge of the box, but he couldn’t quite get enough power into his shot and it was well covered by goalkeeper Jamie Young.
Brisbane then grabbed their second goal with McDonald on the end of a cross from the left. The goal was initially ruled out for offside but the VAR over-ruled the decision and the goal stood.
Still, the Wanderers tried to get forward and some neat play saw Cox fire an effort just wide on 42 minutes in what was a promising sign for the Wanderers.
The Wanderers had a lucky break just before half time when Brisbane’s Jay O’Shea fired a free kick that hit the base of the left post and bounced to safety.
The Red & Black needed some inspiration and it came via Duke, who produced some individual brilliance in making a run down the left, turning a defender inside the box then firing his effort just inside the left post.
However, Brisbane ensured all three points when O’Shea scored from the spot after Matt Jurman had fouled Brad Inman in the penalty area on 70 minutes.
