BRISBANE Roar have joined Western Sydney Wanderers and Adelaide United in the AFC Champions League group stages following an upset 2-0 away win over cashed-up Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua.
Outsiders going into the contest against a Shenhua side include Argentine star Carlos Tevez, the Roar were in command from the outset, taking the lead in just the second minute through their in-form winger Brandon Borrello.
The hosts never recovered, with Tommy Oar adding the Roar’s second goal five minutes before half-time.
Brisbane could even afford missing a sitter in stoppage-time when skipper Matt McKay somehow failed to nudge the ball into an open goal after being picked out by substitute Nick D’Agostino.
The Roar’s win put them in Group E of the Champions League.
Their three opponents will be Japanese club Kashima Antlers, Thai outfit Muangthong United and South Korean side Ulsan Hyundai, whose squad will include former Brisbane attacking midfielder Dimitri Petratos, who made the move only this week.
Adelaide, the 2016 A-League champions, and last year’s beaten grand finalists Western Sydney qualified for the Champions League group stages automatically.
The Wanderers are in Group F with FC Seoul (South Korea), Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) and Shanghai SIPG (China)
Adelaide’s Group H rivals are Jiangsu Suning (China), Jeju United (South Korea) and Gamba Osaka (Japan).
The Roar’s road to the group stages included a 6-0 thrashing of Filipino outfit Global FC at Suncorp Stadium last week, when Borrello scored four goals.
The Australian under-23 representative continued his fine form in Shanghai, giving the Roar an early lead via a clinical volley after being getting on the end of a Tommy Oar cross.
Borrello came within inches of doubling Brisbane’s lead less than 10 minutes later with a long-distance strike that hit the post.
But it was only a short reprieve for Shenhua with the Roar scoring their second goal five minutes before half-time.
This time Borrello turned provider for Oar, who produced a rare right-footed finish after finding space in the penalty area.
A desperate Shenhua had a good spell in the second half but some desperate Roar defending, including a fine reflex save from goalkeeper Jamie Young to deny Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins in the 64th minute.
Tevez, the former Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus attacker who is reportedly earning $1 million a week with Shenhua, tried to inspire his side but was time and again foiled by the Roar’s defensive midfielder Thomas Kristensen.
The Danish international was immense for the Roar, who scrambled well in maintaining their two-goal advantage.
Martins had a late chance to eat into Brisbane’s lead but could not hit the target after pouncing on a ball that had been spilt by goalkeeper Young.
The only sour note of the night for Brisbane was an injury suffered by fullback Jack Hingert, who was replaced in the dying stages of the first half by Daniel Bowles.
Hingert seems in doubt for the Roar’s A-League clash against Melbourne City at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
Outsiders going into the contest against a Shenhua side include Argentine star Carlos Tevez, the Roar were in command from the outset, taking the lead in just the second minute through their in-form winger Brandon Borrello.
The hosts never recovered, with Tommy Oar adding the Roar’s second goal five minutes before half-time.
Brisbane could even afford missing a sitter in stoppage-time when skipper Matt McKay somehow failed to nudge the ball into an open goal after being picked out by substitute Nick D’Agostino.
The Roar’s win put them in Group E of the Champions League.
Their three opponents will be Japanese club Kashima Antlers, Thai outfit Muangthong United and South Korean side Ulsan Hyundai, whose squad will include former Brisbane attacking midfielder Dimitri Petratos, who made the move only this week.
Adelaide, the 2016 A-League champions, and last year’s beaten grand finalists Western Sydney qualified for the Champions League group stages automatically.
The Wanderers are in Group F with FC Seoul (South Korea), Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) and Shanghai SIPG (China)
Adelaide’s Group H rivals are Jiangsu Suning (China), Jeju United (South Korea) and Gamba Osaka (Japan).
The Roar’s road to the group stages included a 6-0 thrashing of Filipino outfit Global FC at Suncorp Stadium last week, when Borrello scored four goals.
The Australian under-23 representative continued his fine form in Shanghai, giving the Roar an early lead via a clinical volley after being getting on the end of a Tommy Oar cross.
Borrello came within inches of doubling Brisbane’s lead less than 10 minutes later with a long-distance strike that hit the post.
But it was only a short reprieve for Shenhua with the Roar scoring their second goal five minutes before half-time.
This time Borrello turned provider for Oar, who produced a rare right-footed finish after finding space in the penalty area.
A desperate Shenhua had a good spell in the second half but some desperate Roar defending, including a fine reflex save from goalkeeper Jamie Young to deny Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins in the 64th minute.
Tevez, the former Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus attacker who is reportedly earning $1 million a week with Shenhua, tried to inspire his side but was time and again foiled by the Roar’s defensive midfielder Thomas Kristensen.
The Danish international was immense for the Roar, who scrambled well in maintaining their two-goal advantage.
Martins had a late chance to eat into Brisbane’s lead but could not hit the target after pouncing on a ball that had been spilt by goalkeeper Young.
The only sour note of the night for Brisbane was an injury suffered by fullback Jack Hingert, who was replaced in the dying stages of the first half by Daniel Bowles.
Hingert seems in doubt for the Roar’s A-League clash against Melbourne City at AAMI Park on Saturday night.