by Carly Adno 5th Jun 2021 5:12 PM | Updated: 5:28 PM
Kosta Barbarouses and Tom Heward-Belle helped consolidate Sydney FC’s second spot on the A-League ladder as the defending champions beat Brisbane Roar 2-0 in Redcliffe.
Barbarouses’ 16th minute strike proved decisive, but it was a standout performance from young goalkeeper Heward-Belle that ensured the Sky Blues took home all three points despite not being at their best.
“We weren’t great with the ball today,” Sydney coach Steve Corica said.
“We had patches that were okay, but I was very pleased with the players coming in - we had a number of changes with the Socceroos boys going away.
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But second-placed Sydney FC were pushed hard before ending the Roar s eight-match unbeaten run at home in Redcliffe on Saturday afternoon.
A lone first-half strike from Kosta Barbarouses was the difference between the teams for much of the contest.
Harry van der Saag doubled the winning margin with the final kick of the contest as his fierce close-range drive went in off the post.
Former Roar forward Barbarouses fired home from an acute angle on 16 minutes after a driving run into the penalty area.
Bobo headed against the crossbar as Sydney FC threatened to double their lead on a couple of occasions.
Sydney FC scored once on either side of half-time to end the regular season on a high with a 2-0 win over Brisbane Roar at Moreton Daily Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Roar needed a three-point effort to seal third spot on the table heading into the Finals Series but will instead wait to see if Central Coast Mariners can defeat Western United in the second game of Matchday Saturday to jump above Brisbane on the table.
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The 21-year-old scored his ninth goal of an impressive campaign with the Roar in Wednesday s 2-1 win over Perth Glory at Moreton Daily Stadium.
The victory sealed Brisbane s finals berth, meaning Danzaki s loan spell from J.League club Consadole Sapporo will extend beyond Saturday s last home-and-away fixture against Sydney FC in Redcliffe.
While most are expecting Danzaki to return home at the conclusion of the Roar s season to continue his career with Sapporo, Moon says he ll be doing all he can to bring the youngster back next season. We have big plans to keep him, Moon said.
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Danzaki smashed home his seventh goal of the season in the 94th minute to claim a priceless three points for the Roar in the race for the finals.
The come-from-behind win, Brisbane s first at home since putting five past Melbourne Victory in February, lifts them above Western and into fifth on the ladder.
The 20-year-old s winner came after a dramatic second-half where the Roar fell behind, equalised and then thought they d scored a second only for VAR to pick up a handball by Dylan Wenzel-Halls.
Just when a draw seemed the most likely outcome however impressive youngster Danzaki popped up to coolly slot home in the dying seconds to secure the precious win.