Brisbane Roar Fall to Mariners, Coach Valkanis Receives Second Red Card

Brisbane Roar endured another challenging outing at Kayo Stadium, suffering a 2-1 defeat to Central Coast Mariners. This result extends their difficult run, marking their sixth loss in seven games.

The match saw Nick D'Agostino open the scoring for Brisbane late in the first half. However, the Mariners quickly responded, with Miguel Di Pizio netting an equalizer in first-half stoppage time. Storm Roux then secured the winning goal for Central Coast after Brisbane failed to clear a corner, sealing the Roar's fate.

Brisbane Roar suffered a 2-1 defeat to Central Coast Mariners at Kayo Stadium, marking their sixth loss in seven games.

Valkanis Dismissed for Second Time This Season

Adding to the team's woes, Brisbane Roar coach Michael Valkanis received a red card from referee Lachlan Keevers immediately following the match. This incident occurred just minutes after Valkanis had been shown a yellow card. This marks his second dismissal of the season, with the first occurring during a 2-1 victory against Central Coast on New Year's Eve.

Coach Alleges 'Pre-Judgement' After Red Card Incident

Valkanis expressed significant frustration regarding the red card decision. He stated he was sent off "for no reason" after merely asking the referee for an explanation behind his initial yellow card. He claimed the referee told him to "move away" and did not provide a justification.

The Roar coach hinted at a broader issue, suggesting that his team feels unfairly treated by officials. Valkanis suggested that the Roar feels "pre-judged" and that they are "playing against everyone, every single time."

"Valkanis expressed frustration regarding the red card, stating he was sent off 'for no reason' after asking the referee why he received a yellow card."

Lineup Adjustments Due to Injuries and Suspensions

Ahead of the match, Brisbane coach Michael Valkanis made three changes to his starting lineup. Nick D'Agostino, Michael Ruhs, and Hosine Bility were brought into the team. These adjustments were necessitated by a hamstring injury to captain Jay O'Shea and the suspension of striker Chris Long. Justin Vidic was moved to the bench for this fixture.

The Central Coast Mariners also made two changes to their squad. Brad Tapp stepped in for the suspended Nathan Paull, while Harry Steele was introduced into the midfield in place of the injured Alfie McCalmont.