In an eerily quiet match played before just of 4,000 spectators at the 52,000 seat Suncorp Stadium, the Brisbane Roar handed the Mariners their ninth consecutive loss on Friday night (March 13).
It was however a competitive match in which a VAR over-rule that granted a goal to Brisbane on the stroke of half time was all that separated the two sides.
The Mariners looked dangerous in the first half, pressing Robbie Fowler’s Brisbane side several times.
Danny de Silva missed a big opportunity when he had Jordan Murray clear in the box to his left but elected to try to slide the ball through defenders himself.
Murray than spooned the rebound wide and high under pressure.
In extra time at the end of the first half, 36 year old striker, Scott McDonald, found the back of the Mariners’ net.
He was initially judged off-side by the linesman, but the VAR over-ruled the decision and the Roar went to the break 1-0.
Brisbane took more control of the match in the second half and Mark Birighitti was called upon on several occasions to keep the Roar from adding to their lead, including a brilliant stop to deny McDonald a second in the top corner.
The Roar have been unbeaten at home this season and the win lifts them above Perth Glory into fourth place on the ladder, their highest position this season.
It also extends the Roar’s unbeaten run against the Mariners in the A-League to 18 games.
The Mariners on the other hand look set to take the wooden spoon for the third season in a row and their fourth spoon in five seasons.
The Mariners will now turn their attention to the home game against Melbourne City this Friday night (March 20) where they will be hoping to avoid a tenth consecutive loss.
In light of the national response to the COVID-19 coronavirus, Football Federation Australia (FFA) has announced that all remaining A-League and W-League games will be played behind closed doors and closed to the public.
Reporter: Ross Barry