Brisbane Roar increase 1st-place lead in A-League

SYDNEY (AP) Brisbane striker Besart Berisha scored two goals in a 2-1 win over Adelaide United to help the Roar increase their first-place lead in Australia's A-League.

Adelaide led 1-0 after seven minutes when Osama Malik headed home from close range after a corner kick. Berisha leveled with a penalty in the 21st minute before his fifth goal of the season in the 72nd gave Brisbane its seventh win in nine matches.

The second-place Western Sydney Wanderers drew 1-1 with the Melbourne Heart and fell five points behind the Roar. David Williams scored in the 38th minute for the Heart before Aaron Mooy leveled for the Wanderers just before halftime.

Sydney FC, playing without the hamstring-sore former Juventus star Alessandro Del Piero, missed a chance to take over second place when it lost 1-0 to the Central Coast Mariners. Daniel McBreen scored for the Mariners in the 26th minute.

Brisbane coach Mike Mulvey said his side was fortunate to pick up three points.

"I think we were very lucky ... we could have been 3-1 down at halftime and they deserve a lot of credit for the way they played," Mulvey said.

Perth stayed in the middle of the standings with a 4-2 win over the Wellington Phoenix on Friday.

Glory winger Sidnei Sciola scored twice to help the home side overcome an early 2-1 deficit. His second goal came in stoppage time when Wellington goalkeeper Glenn Moss fumbled a long-range drive from the Perth winger that should have been easily saved.

Referee Matthew Gillett sent Phoenix midfielder Albert Riera off in the 72nd minute after showing him what he thought was a second yellow card of the match.

However, Wellington players told Gillett that he had confused Riera with Louis Fenton, who had received a yellow card earlier in the match. Riera was recalled but substituted a short time later.

On Sunday, the Melbourne Victory host Newcastle to conclude the ninth round.