Brisbane have claimed their first A-League win of the season after an Adam Taggart double-strike led them to a 2-0 victory over Melbourne City.
Taggart scored in either half as the Roar eased past City at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, with the visitors surprisingly not even bringing star Uruguayan striker Bruno Fornaroli to Queensland.
Eric Bautheac of the Roar tangles with City skipper Scott Jamieson.Credit:AAP
Fornaroli's omission was reportedly due to fitness issues, not injury, and sparked plenty of pre-match debate.
Coach Warren Joyce made the call despite Fornaroli notching his first goal of the season in City's round four 2-0 win over Wellington last time out.
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Former City and Denmark goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen labelled the decision to omit the 31-year-old a "huge gamble".
"He's [Joyce] trying to send a message out to the squad but it could backfire," Sorensen told Fox Sports.
Leading player agent John Grimaud however praised the decision.
"Younger players are hopefully watching and learning that no matter how talented you are if you don't present physically in the right shape you won't play," Grimaud tweeted.
City made a solid start but were undone in the 27th minute when a failure to react to a short corner by the Roar led to French winger Eric Bautheac whipping in a ball which Taggart nodded home from the near post.
Adam Taggart celebrates one of his two goals with Roar fans.Credit:AAP
The strike put the Roar into a lead for the first time this season.
Down at the break, City huffed and puffed in search of an equaliser with Kearyn Baccus and Lachlan Wales both performing well.
Wales came closest to restoring parity for the visitors when his run and shot in the 47th minute was deflected on to the post.
The absence of Fornaroli was often felt with many of City's moves breaking down due to a lack of presence up front.
City's frustrations were evident when captain Scott Jamieson was booked early in the second half following a physical altercation with Bautheac, who was also yellow-carded for the incident.
Some good build-up work involving Spanish import Alex Lopez and ex-Danish international Tobias Mikkelsen led to Taggart scoring to seal the game in the 66th minute.
City's Lachlan Wales is brought down by Avram Papadopoulos of the Roar.Credit:AAP
Taggart's powerful right foot finish inside the box was his fifth strike in as many A-League matches for the Roar following his off-season move from Perth.
The Roar will be sweating on the fitness of Bautheac after he was substituted midway through the second half, still hobbling from a challenge in the first half which hurt his lower right leg.
Australian under-23 international Stefan Mauk was also overlooked for the match after failing to pull up fit from training on his injured groin.
The Roar travel to in-form Adelaide next weekend while City host Newcastle.
AAP
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