Soccer: Heart outplay muddled Roar to take 2-1 victory

Issey Nakajima-Farran (L) of the Roar and Aziz Behich of the Heart. Photo / Getty Images

Goals were again at a premium in round 10 Hyundai A-League action with just eight scored across the five matches.

The first game of the round produced the most scoring action as Melbourne Heart upset leaders Brisbane Roar 2-1 at Suncorp Stadium.

Goals to Jonathan Germano and Eli Babali had the visitors cruising at 2-0 inside half an hour. The sole reply from the Roar came from Mitch Nichols 12 minutes from time.

The home team, still hurting from their first loss in 35 games a week earlier, were disjointed and failed to cope with the well-organised Heart side who were always in control.

But Brisbane have little time to reflect, as they are in Dunedin to play the Wellington Phoenix at the Forsyth Barr Stadium tomorrow night.

Without playmaker and goalscorer Thomas Broich, the home team have struggled. It is not yet known whether Broich will be fit and ready to play the Phoenix in a second clash between the two teams in less than five weeks. The first meeting, at Suncorp Stadium, was drawn 1-1.

Ricki Herbert has close to a full squad to select from but is awaiting the outcome of an appeal over the sending-off of Mirjan Pavlovic in the 1-0 win over Perth Glory before settling on his final 15 for the match.

While they secured their third win of the season, the Phoenix were not exactly flattering and will need to bring their A game if they are to contain a Roar side intent on pulling clear at the top of the table after seeing what at one time was a six-point lead cut to nothing with those two losses.

The Central Coast Mariners continue to impress. Their 2-0 win over neighbours Newcastle Jets was the biggest of the round.

A late Fabien Barbiero goal salvaged a point for Adelaide United on their trip to Melbourne.

Archie Thompson gave Melbourne Victory the lead in the 70th minute and the hosts looked set to hold on for their third win of the season but in the end had to settle for a sixth draw and eighth place on the table.

The last game of the round was hardly worth the wait as bottom-placed Gold Coast United stumbled their way through a 0-0 draw with Sydney FC who blew their chance of taking a clear third place behind the Roar and the Mariners.

It was the fifth scoreless draw of the season and the second involving Sydney who started their campaign in the same manner on their away trip to the Victory.

The stage is set for a blockbuster round 11. The Roar have only three days after their trip to Dunedin to prepare for a top-of-the-table clash at home against the Mariners in a replay of the round on battle - also at Suncorp - which Brisbane won 1-0 with a 73rd minute Nichols goal.

These two teams met in last season's grand final - at the same ground - with Brisbane winning a penalty shootout after finishing 2-2 after extra time.

The Phoenix too have a short lead-in time to their Sunday encounter with the Victory at AAMI Park.

They met in round four in Wellington with the Victory going away 2-1 winners.