Auckland FC have overpowered Brisbane Roar in a 2-0 win at Suncorp Stadium, extending their lead at the top of the Isuzu UTE A-League table to five points.
Sam Cosgrove and Lachy Brook both brought their personal goal tallies to the season to five, sharing the lead at the top of the golden boot standings with five other players.
Cosgrove and Brook’s goals were both typical of the players that scored them, with the big Englishman bundling the ball into Brisbane’s net inside six minutes with his chest, force of will and physical presence.
Meanwhile Lachy Brook underlined his reputation as one of the form players of the competition with the second goal in the 73rd minute, cutting inside from the right and curling a brilliant shot past a despairing Dean Bouzanis that will be in contention for goal of the season.
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Jesse Randall also caused consistent headaches for Brisbane’s defence, with his pace and directness too much for the Roar’s backline to handle in the first half in particular.
Brisbane enjoyed the bulk of the possession across the match, but looked most threatening when Emmett Shaw and Quinn Macnicol replaced Chris Long and Austin Ludwik in the 76th minute.
The loss was Brisbane’s third in a row, a run in which they have not scored a goal.
In all the Roar have taken just four points in their last six games, a run they’ll be hoping to snap next Friday night in a trip across the Nullarbor to Perth Glory.
On the other side of the coin, Auckland consolidated their position on top of the Isuzu UTE A-League table – a spot they now can not relinquish by the end of this round.
Auckland’s next game is next Friday night away to Melbourne City.
ALEX TOBIN MEDAL VOTES:
3. Lachy Brook
2. Dan Hall
1. Sam Cosgrove
