Brisbane Strikers supporters were left asking themselves puzzling questions about the consistency of their team last night
after the Brisbane Strikers turned on their power, but short-circuited Parramatta’s, in a comfortable 3-0 win over the
Sydney team.
Brisbane fans have become used to watching two different teams play in yellow and blue at Ballymore this season - the
beautiful one that can bounce the Olympic Sharks and the ugly one that has been bounced by the likes of
Marconi. It was the beautiful one that turned up last night.
There was a spell early in the first half, however, when suspicions lurked that perhaps the ugly Strikers had turned up.
Parramatta Power had the better of the first 20 minutes or so and the home side’s backline appeared to be missing the
suspended Steve Laybutt as the Power made a few tentative inroads. Jason Kearton was the more anxious of the two
‘keepers, having to get down low to make saves on two occasions, including a goalbound effort from Parramatta
midfielder Kosta Salapasidis, who also managed to rattle Kearton’s crossbar with another shot when he raised his
trajectory.
In this opening period, the Strikers’ only significant attack ended with Fernando getting his head to a cross from the left
by Peter Grierson. Parramatta’s young goalkeeper Liam Reddy was able to watch that effort sail harmlessly over the
crossbar.
Around the twenty minute mark, however, the tone of proceedings began to change. The Strikers began to enjoy more
possession and get into the opposition’s half more often and in the twenty-second minute a warning shot was fired across
the bows of the good ship Parramatta when debutant Brisbane forward Felix Tagawa, who was beginning to make his
presence felt, got on the end of a through ball and tucked it into Reddy’s net, only to be ruled offside.
A minute later Tagawa was involved again when he fashioned a chance for David Pilic, who fired the ball across the face
of goal and just beyond Reddy’s right post. Then, in the thirtieth minute, Tagawa
ran on to another through ball and raced into the penalty area but, under pressure from a Parramatta defender, fired his left-foot shot over the top.
By now, for those who could recognise the signs, the Parramatta ship had begun to list a little - to the port side - for most
of the Strikers’ attacking thrust was directed down the left wing where fullback Shane Stefanutto and midfielder Peter
Grierson were combining well.
Nevertheless, the visitors did manage to produce an awkward moment for the Brisbane defence when a goalmouth flurry
in which Kearton was forced to try to punch the ball clear twice, resulted in the ball bouncing invitingly for the head of
Salapasidis, who succeeded only in putting it over the bar.
Then, in the fortieth minute (and at the risk of overdoing the maritime terminology) Parramatta were finally struck a mortal
blow amidships, when a free kick was swung over from the left by Peter Grierson. Grierson, who is surely the Strikers’
most adept user of the dead ball, produced a curling floater similar to the one which led to the opening goal against
Olympic a month ago. This time, the ball cleared the ‘keeper and a packed goalmouth and fell to Jon McKain near the
back post. McKain controlled the ball awkwardly but effectively with his abdomen, cut outside a defender on his left foot,
and thrashed the ball along the ground and into the Parramatta net. McKain, of course, reacted with the delight fans
expect from a defender who doesn’t get the chance to score a great many goals, and the Strikers entered the half time
break in front.
Whatever Parramatta coach Nick Theodorakopoulos said to his team during the break did not even get a chance to sink
in before his team was struck a second deadly blow within about fifteen seconds of the restart. Fernando Rech took the
ball on a long run almost from the centre circle around a couple of sleepy Parramatta midfielders, before cutting left and
sprinting around a third defender on the edge of the Parramatta box. Just as the "urgent" signs went up in the Parramatta
defence, the Brazilian unleashed a shot which Reddy seemed, well, unready for. The keeper felt the shot rattle his palms
and the ball ricocheted into the path of Anthony Roche, who gleefully nodded it into an empty goal to the delight of an
incredulous crowd who were still settling into their seats.
Parramatta never recoved from this shock. Three minutes later they were under the pump again when Fernando and
Webber combined well on the right for Webber to launch a driven cross towards the head of Roche, whose attempt at
goal produced a good save from Reddy.
Theodorakopoulos tried to produce a rabbit from his hat by bringing on classy forward Pablo Cardozo in place of Peter
Zorbas, but despite the best efforts of Cardozo to penetrate up the middle and Brendan Renaud to impose himself
down the left wing, Parramatta produced little of note. Meanwhile, when the home side were in possession Fernando was
having a field day, orchestrating attacks seemingly at will.
In the sixty-fourth minute the home side penetrated again. Stuart McLaren produced a wonderfully-weighted left-footed
pass which split the Parramatta defence and launched Stefanutto down the left wing towards the by-line. Reaching the
ball just in time, the speedy fullback produced an inch-perfect low cross which Tagawa met with a diving header which
gave Reddy no chance.
It was a fitting reward for the Tahitian, who had worked the house down. He celebrated with a somersault which did
nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the home supporters, who were by now confident that their side was beyond the
reach of an out of sorts Parramatta and beginning to feel that they had a new ‘crowd favourite’ to
savour.
The game was certainly up for the visitors, and they played as if they knew it. Their midfielders lost their way and their
game began to collapse. In fact, the threat they posed receded so noticeably that Brisbane coach John Kosmina felt
comfortable enough to bring on reserve goalkeeper Corey Baldock for the apparently uninjured Kearton with fifteen
minutes to go. It was a nice touch by the Strikers boss, and one no doubt appreciated by the capable Baldock, but was
not a move likely to be interpreted by the Parramatta players as one of respect for their play on the night.
Baldock was called upon to do little other than make routine ventures towards the edge of his box to collect overhit
through balls, and to carefully watch a few moderately struck shots go harmlessly past his posts. At the other end,
however, in the 77th minute David Pilic almost caused Reddy further embarrassment when a nicely executed passing
movement resulted in the blond midfielder bearing down on the Parramatta goal from the right hand side of the penalty
area. Unfortunately for Pilic, his shot again fizzed across the face of goal and beyond the far post to safety.
This was the last occasion on which either goal was seriously threatened, and the home side seemed content to
concentrate on keeping a clean sheet - a rarity this season.
When the final whistle blew, the body language of the home players spoke more of happy relief at getting another home
win and breaking a three-match losing streak than it did of unrestrained glee, while Parramatta must have gone into the
dressing sheds to a rather strained reception from their gaffer.
There will be little time, however, for the Strikers to savour their win. While it kept their top six hopes alive, they must play
another game of "last chance football" against South Melbourne in Melbourne on Wednesday night.
