Chris Long scored a stunning stoppage-time winner as Brisbane Roar trumped Adelaide United 1-0 in their Isuzu UTE A-League showdown on Sunday night.
With the Round 7 clash appearing destined for a draw, former Everton and Burnley striker Long opened his Brisbane account in incredible fashion in the 95th minute at Coopers Stadium.
The Roar are now second in the standings and five games unbeaten – their best run of form in a single season since going eight matches without defeat between October 2022 and January 2023 – as sixth-placed Adelaide suffered back-to-back losses.
It was a fierce and tense clash in South Australia, where Roar star Milorad Stajic suffered an injury just prior to kick-off.
Stajic succumbed to injury seconds before the match got underway at Coopers Stadium, where Brisbane head coach Michael Valkanis returned to the place where he captained and coached the Reds.
Adelaide goalkeeper Joshua Smits and Roar counterpart Dean Bouzanis both made fine saves throughout, while James McGarry and Brisbane’s appeals for a late penalty were turned down.
But substitute Long came off the bench and settled the matchup with a show-stopping strike.
