Brett Holman nets winner on return from injury for Brisbane Roar

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:49 am

Brisbane Roar celebrate Brett Holman's late winner.
Brisbane Roar celebrate Brett Holman's late winner.
Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Brett Holman capped his return from injury by guiding Brisbane to a last-gasp 2-1 A-League win over Western Sydney.

Making his first appearance since November after undergoing knee surgery, the former Socceroo scored the winner in the third minute of injury time on Saturday night to lift the Roar into third spot.

A cheeky backheel from fellow substitute Manuel Arana helped set him up, with Holman dribbling forward after receiving the ball and then unleashing with a rasping shot from around 20 metres out.

Wanderers goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic was hugely at fault as he managed to get both his hands to it but couldn't keep it out, delighting the 13,058 fans at Suncorp Stadium, who were treated to another dramatic Roar finish.

It was no less than the Roar deserved after dominating large stretches of the match, with 17 shots on goal to Western Sydney's nine.

Brisbane Roar celebrate Brett Holman's late winner.
Brisbane Roar celebrate Brett Holman's late winner.
Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

It's also a crucial result in the context of the finals race, with Brisbane closing the gap on second-placed Melbourne Victory to just five points.

Janjetovic probably had man-of-the-match honours stitched up before Holman's goal. In just his third match since his controversial switch from Sydney FC, he made a string of vital saves, twice denying Jamie Maclaren from close range as well as a curling effort from Tommy Oar late in the second half.

Maclaren was recalled to the Roar's starting side by coach John Aloisi after he was benched two weeks in a row and, while he didn't score, he set up Brandon Borrello for the opening goal in the 22nd minute.

Daniel Bowles, who filled in for the suspended Corey Brown at left-back, created the chance with a terrific early cross that went straight to Jack Clisby.

However, the Western Sydney defender skewed his clearance up to Maclaren, who slid the ball across for an easy finish for Borrello.

The Wanderers -- who could have climbed into the top six with a win -- equalised 10 minutes later courtesy of Jumpei Kusukami's thumping shot from the edge of the box.

But it appeared neither side had it in them to claim all three points -- until Holman's dramatic late cameo.