Jamie Maclaren stars as Brisbane Roar beat Perth Glory

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:53 am

Matt King/Getty Images

Matt King/Getty Images

Jamie Maclaren scored one and set up another to end his A-League scoring drought as Brisbane Roar beat Perth Glory 2-1 on Sunday.

In by far their best performance so far this season, the Roar dominated play at Suncorp Stadium and survived a second-half scare from the visitors before claiming a deserved victory in front of 13,428 fans.

Maclaren, the highest-scoring Australian player in the competition last season, was the central figure against his old side. Just days after Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou said goals were his only route back into the national team, Maclaren toed home an inch-perfect cross from left-back Corey Brown in the 31st minute to open his account for the season.

Then with 15 minutes to go, he played in substitute Brandon Borrello, who showed great poise to control the ball as he burst into the penalty area at pace and then fired past goalkeeper Liam Reddy into the far-bottom corner.

Matt King/Getty Images

Borrello had only been on the field for a few minutes and probably should have had another when he blasted over in front of an open net with 10 minutes to go.

It was the ideal response from Brisbane after they were stunned by Nebojsa Marinkovic's 54th-minute equaliser.

Thomas Kristensen and Thomas Broich should have converted early chances, and the Roar's profligacy was the only reason why Glory were able to come back into the contest.

Rhys Williams cut out two Brisbane defenders with a terrific turn-and-pass to tee up Marinkovic, who curled in from the top of the box to level the scores -- but despite a busy game from Diego Castro, it was the only real effort they had in attack all night.

Perth coach Kenny Lowe had to watch on from the stands as he served the first of a two-game ban for referee abuse, while skipper Rostyn Griffiths was taken to hospital for dental surgery after a collision with Brett Holman and could be a doubt for next week's home game against Western Sydney.

Griffiths lost half a tooth when he collided with the back of Holman's head early in the first half, but he was only taken from the field when what appeared to be concussion symptoms took hold minutes later.