Soccer: Sydney relieve Roar of burden of unbeaten record

The Brisbane Roar. Photo / Getty Images

Brisbane Roar's 36-match unbeaten streak is over with the feeling that in having that monkey finally taken off their back by Sydney FC, the Queenslanders can now focus all their attention on retaining their Hyundai A-League title.

In less than a minute, the Roar were on the back foot against a Sydney side determined to bounce back from their loss to the Wellington Phoenix a week earlier.

Dimitri Petratos, handed his first start of the season, needed just 36 seconds to put the home side ahead. When that lead was doubled inside 20 minutes, Brisbane's unbeaten run was in danger.

That early goal was also significant for the home side, who have scored the opening goal only once in their previous eight outings.

The second goal, from a great Brett Emerton corner which Brisbane goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos helped into his own goal, gave the home side the buffer they needed.

On the other side of the country, Perth Glory warmed up for their long trek to Wellington, via a Wednesday night clash with Sydney, with a much-needed win heaping more misery on the hapless Gold Coast.

It was not exactly scintillating - goals in each half from penalties - but it dragged the Glory back into the top half of the table.

In contrast to the wet and windy conditions in Sydney, the nib Stadium in Perth was hot and humid.

A day after celebrating the birth of his third child - daughter Lilly - Mile Sterjovski thumped home from the spot after Zach Anderson had handled.

Eight minutes into the second half Shane Smeltz took over the penalty duties and promptly doubled the home team's lead.

The visitors' woes continued on the hour when Anderson was sent off after a second yellow card.

In Morwell, Ricki Herbert and his Wellington Phoenix were left to again contemplate what might have been as they fell 1-0 to Melbourne Heart after creating more scoring opportunities in 90 minutes than they did in half a dozen away games last season but again without getting the ball across the line.

"It was another encouraging performance but again we came away with nothing," said Herbert.

An untimely lapse in concentration in defending a 41st minute free kick cost the Phoenix dearly as the home side scored.

In the second half the Phoenix created panic in the Heart defence but without a goal to show for it.