A WONDER strike by Brisbane forward Jay O’Shea has secured a 1-0 win over Western United in Redcliffe to keep alive the home side’s A-League Men finals hopes.<\/p>\n
O’Shea, the Roar’s leading goal scorer this season with six, unleashed from the edge of the box in the 81st minute to give his team a deserved win and take them to 23 points and in striking distance of the top six.<\/p>\n
“He is an absolute God of football,” Roar forward Jez Lofthouse said after the game.<\/p>\n
“That man is ridiculously good and so underrated. Whenever we need something he is there to dig us out.”<\/p>\n
The John Aloisi-coached Western United are still in the finals hunt and just outside the top six, but Brisbane were the better side.<\/p>\n
The visitors were behind the Roar on the ladder a month ago but three consecutive wins had taken them into finals contention.<\/p>\n
Aloisi recently signed a two-year deal with the club which coincided with the team’s winning streak, but they failed to fire on Saturday in stifling heat.<\/p>\n
“Unfortunately we didn’t play well enough today,” Western United forward Lachlan Wales said.<\/p>\n
“I’m not sure what was wrong there but we didn’t move the ball quick enough or create enough chances.”<\/p>\n
The match had its controversial moments.<\/p>\n
On the 30-minute mark Western United defender Ben Garuccio appeared to handle the ball in the box, stopping a shot on goal by the Roar’s Rahmat Akbari.<\/p>\n
The VAR decision was that Garuccio had not moved his arm away from its natural position, leaving Brisbane players furious.<\/p>\n
Serbian import Stefan Scepovic found the back of the net for the hosts in the first half but was ruled offside after smart work from Lofthouse in the lead-up.<\/p>\n
Lofthouse also had a shot of his own brilliantly saved by Jamie Young.<\/p>\n
The Roar had four shots on goal in the opening stanza and the only save Roar goalkeeper Jordan Holmes had to make was when Akbari accidentally headed in his direction.<\/p>\n
An outstretched Young arm saved what should have been a goal for Scepovic straight after the break.<\/p>\n
Forward Lofthouse then found the net in the 65th but was ruled marginally offside.<\/p>\n
“Obviously we were a bit disappointed with some of the decisions but we won the game and we are very happy to grind out a win,” Lofthouse said.<\/p>\n