Brisbane Roar suffer fifth home loss of season vs. Wanderers

Brisbane's miserable A-League season continued with a 2-0 defeat to Western Sydney Wanderers at Suncorp Stadium on Friday.

Oriol Riera and Mark Bridge both netted in the first half for the visitors to inflict on the Roar their fifth home defeat of the season, in front of a crowd of 11,189.

To make matters worse, key midfielder Thomas Kristensen, who was playing only his fourth game since returning from a hamstring injury, limped off in the first half and watched the rest of the game with ice strapped to his left leg.

The Roar dominated possession early but created few goal-scoring opportunities.

Yet perhaps most worryingly for coach John Aloisi will be the lack of response after the interval when the Wanderers could have easily extended their lead.

The opening goal came just before the half-hour mark when former Roar midfielder Steven Lustica crossed from the right flank to the back post, where Brendon Santalab stooped to head at goal.

Despite Jamie Young's smart reflex stop, Riera was allowed to slot home from six yards.

Frustratingly for the Roar, moments earlier Corey Gameiro was given offside while running onto a Mitchell Oxborrow long ball in front of goal with no defender in sight.

Much to Aloisi's frustration, television replays suggested it was a wrong call.

Gameiro had another chance shortly after, latching on to Jack Hingert's long through-ball but his firmly struck shot was kept out by Vedran Janjetovic.

On the stroke of half-time, Riera's pass was deflected off Oxborrow into the path of Bridge who shimmied past substitute Daniel Bowles before beating Young at his near post.

In the second half, the Wanderers went close to adding to the scoreline when Riera missed a free header from a set piece and Young made smart saves from close-range efforts from Santalab, Bridge and substitute Lachlan Scott.

Janjetovic also made a good save from a Gameiro volley from the edge of the box in a rare moment when the Roar looked like getting back into the game.

Things could have been even worse for the hosts as 11 minutes from time Massimo Maccarone clearly elbowed Santalab in the Roar penalty area which should have resulted in a penalty and probably a red card.

The defeat sees the Roar slip to second bottom, while the Wanderers' second successive victory moves them into the top six.