Dramatic Danzaki goal snatches vital A-League win for Roar

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:07 am

A dramatic injury-time winner by Riku Danzaki lifted Brisbane to a 2-1 victory over Western United and into the A-League's top six. 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 in the table.

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.

Earlier, a pair of second-half substitutes sparked the game into life at a damp Moreton Daily Stadium. Olyroo Lachlan Wales scored with his first touch in the 60th minute to put Western into the lead before Brisbane's Alex Parsons came off the bench to play a key role in Joshua Brindell-South's equaliser.

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Wales had only been on the pitch for a matter of seconds when he was played in by Italian Alessandro Diamanti, running clear of the Roar defence and slotting home to put the visitors ahead.

Roar coach Warren Moon turned to his bench in response minutes later and it paid off when Parsons' shot from the edge of the area was palmed into the path of Brindell-South, who slammed home his second goal of the season.

Riku Danzaki netted a dramatic injury-time winner as Brisbane Roar beat Western United.
Jono Searle/Getty Images

Western had nearly forced a winner moments before Wenzel-Halls' strike when Andrew Durante's attempt on target after a goalmouth scramble was headed clear on the goalline by Roar fullback Corey Brown.

Before Wales' impact of the bench, it was Western goalkeeper Ryan Scott who played the role of hero for his team, making several crucial saves to deny the Roar. Wenzel-Halls rose highest to head down a cross from Joshua Brindell-South in the 25th minute but Scott's right leg came to the rescue for Western before Imai blocked Joey Champness's follow-up. Minutes later he stopped a Macaulay Gillesphey header.

Gillesphey was booked in the 33rd minute after sliding through the back of Besart Berisha, the ex-Roar striker reacting angrily to what he felt was a challenge that deserved more than just a yellow card.

Western will play their third straight match on the road on Saturday when they travel to Bankwest Stadium to play Western Sydney.

Brisbane head to AAMI Park to play table-topping Melbourne City on Sunday.