Soccer: Roar talent puts onus on rivals

Kosta Barbarouses of the Brisbane Roar. Photo / Getty Images

Brisbane Roar continue to set the benchmark, Melbourne Victory emerge as a genuine challenger and Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix watch the mountain they must climb get higher as the business end of the Hyundai A-League season approaches.

Brisbane snapped a six-year drought at the Sydney FC, extending their unbeaten run to a record 16 matches with their 1-0 triumph.

The teams were separated by a super goal from Roar's Kosta Barbarouses just before halftime. It was well-constructed and one befitting the occasion as the rampant league leaders won for the first time in nine trips to the ground in the league's six seasons.

Coming off a 4-0 hiding at the hands of Central Coast a week earlier, Sydney were just as bad in the first half but improved in the second but without scoring the goal they needed to get back in the frame.

With just 42 per cent of possession, the hosts were up against it.

In Saturday's late game, the Phoenix slumped to their 10th loss of the season - eight across the Tasman.

Gold Coast coach Miron Bleiberg described his team's 2-0 win over the Phoenix at Skilled Park as "one of our easiest" and said his players won without getting out of second gear in a match in which the visitors started the rough stuff to which his team responded.

"At the moment we are a top team and they are mid-table and that was the reflection," said Bleiberg. "If you asked me before the game, that's what I would have wanted. I'm happy.

"The Phoenix drew us into a bit of a rough game which they started and we responded," Bleiberg said. "From what I saw, there were two tackles that were worse than yellow cards from the Phoenix in the first half.

"I'm not saying they were the only guilty party - in the end the game was a bit rough and maybe it had a bit to do with the slippery conditions as well."

Not so happy was Perth Glory coach Ian Fergusson after his team missed out on a desperately needed win.

Leading from the fourth minute when Josh Mitchell scored, the Glory were denied the points with a controversial late goal from Central Coast Mariners' Patrick Zwaanswijk at nib Stadium. Zwaanswijk was on hand in the 87th minute to bundle the ball across the line from close-range, although it looked as though Glory youngster Josh Risdon was fouled by Daniel McBreen as the Mariners striker nodded the ball across to Zwaanswijk.

"I'm sick and tired of these mistakes the referees are making week in week out," Glory interim head coach Ferguson said. "This is our livelihood and it's cost us two points today and it's a blatant mistake, as simple as that."

Melbourne Victory turned on a clinical display in beating Melbourne Heart 3-1.

Robbie Kruse scored twice for Victory to cruise to the top of the golden boot with 10 - two ahead of Sergio van Dijk, who scored for Adelaide in their 2-0 home win over North Queensland Fury, and Jean Carlos Solorzano (Brisbane Roar).