SYDNEY FC's marquee off-season recruit Brett Emerton was signed to add some sparkle to the harbour city but last night he was forced to defend, defend and defend in their 2-0 loss to a slick Brisbane Roar side at the Sydney Football Stadium.
The reigning A League champions fulfilled their promise to play for the win and to extend their 29-match unbeaten record - and they set about doing it via a series of sharp passes, quick feet and through entrenched combinations.
Emerton, who grew up in the western suburbs, was welcomed 'home' by a crowd of 15,789 and he did his best to inject himself into the match. With Socceroos coach Holger Osieck sitting in the stand, Emerton tried to spark attacking raids, but he was needed to defend against a Brisbane outfit that tormented his team through their wide midfielders.
Last week there was plenty made about Emerton's missed goal against Melbourne Victory, but this week he deserved praise for knuckling down and getting through the unglamorous slog.
Nick Carle was the hope of the team to score. He threatened to do so at the beginning of both halves, while Michael Beauchamp was also in the thick of the action. However, Brisbane proved they will again be the year's benchmark team.
Coach Ange Postecoglou promised that his team would play for the victory and not the record books, and they worked hard to make good on his word.
The Roar played the same brand of football that won them last year's premiership-championship double and also captured the football public's imagination along the way. They played with intent, even though their rhythm was frustrated in the opening 43 minutes by a dogged Sydney FC, who did well to repel a number of raids.
The home team were well served by goalkeeper Liam Reddy, who remained cool under pressure.
It seemed cruel, that with just three minutes on the clock before half-time, the Roar's Besart Berisha stabbed the ball into the back of the net after Reddy parried an explosive left-foot drive by Erik Paartalu.
The game had started well for Sydney with Carle in a threatening position before the Roar's Matt Smith foiled the moment.
German-born midfielder Thomas Broich was a constant threat and despite some Tarzan Grip-like attention, he managed to produce some deft passes to allow the Roar to dominate proceedings.
He hammered a great goal home in the 72nd minute, after some clever and cool-headed lead-up work by Kofi Danning. Sydney, who had responded strongly to most of the visitors' challenges, appeared stretched after the second goal.
It was a disappointing end, and with an ounce of luck and extra finesse, the Sky Blues could have found the net. Bruno Cazarine reflected the disappointment of the club's supporters when, in the 18th minute, his attempt to head a Scott Jamieson corner past the goalie went over the crossbar.
Sydney FC's second game of the season was one of spasmodic flair and missed opportunities
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