Mixed results for new boys
There was mixed results for the new boys of the Hyundai A-League, with Gold Coast United securing a 3-1 win derby win over Brisbane Roar, while North Queensland Fury went down narrowly 3-2 at home against Sydney FC.
North Queensland was the first of the two new franchise clubs in action, hosting Sydney at Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville. But Sydney spoiled Fury's home warming with a thrilling 3-2 win, with John Aloisi grabbing a double for the visitors.
A penalty to Aloisi in the 72nd minute proved the difference, as the visitors went close to allowing a 2-0 first half lead slip through their grasps.
Aloisi made a statement that he may be back from a horror 2008/09 season, with his double while talented teenager Kofi Danning scored the other for Sydney.
Rostyn Griffiths scored for North Queensland in the first half, while Robbie Fowler announced his presence in the Hyundai A-League with a strike from the penalty spot to level the scores.
Sydney though will be breathing a huge sigh of relief after getting away with victory following a gutsy effort from the competition's new boys.
They got off to a dream start in the 4th minute, capitalizing on a smart save by Clint Bolton to deny a Fowler goal bound free kick. The ball broke upfield to Danning, who threaded a great ball to Aloisi and just when it looked as though the ball had gotten away from him, he finished superbly across Paul Henderson and inside the far post.
Sydney then struck again in the 28th minute through Danning. The 18-year-old turned Fury defender Jack Hingert inside out, breezed by and then powered a cracking low shot to the left of a diving Henderson.
But fear of opening night rout was abated for the Fury just moments before halftime as Griffiths was bestowed the honour of scoring the club's maiden goal. He got his head on the end of a well-placed corner cross from Spagnuolo, sending the 8897-strong local crowd into raptures.
13 minutes after the resumption Fury were on level terms through star Fowler, the former Liverpool marksman gently potted the ball past Bolton, after a clear foul on Spagnuolo inside the 18-yard box from Shannon Cole.
The visitors restored their advantage from the penalty spot when Aloisi took advantage of a foul on Alex Brosque by Henderson, who took out the legs of Brosque, leaving the official with no option but to point to the spot.
Culina, who became the highest profile Hyundai A-League signing earlier this year when he transferred to United from Dutch powerhouse PSV Eindhoven, found space in the box in the 59th minute and sent the ball whistling into the back of the net with apparent ease.
The Roar actually dominated possession and created a host of opportunities throughout the match, but in the end it was the clinical finishing of Culina and New Zealand international Shane Smeltz that proved to be the difference.
Sergio van Dijk gave the home crowd hope of a miraculous turnaround when he slotted a penalty in the 89th minute, making the score 2-1, but it was quickly snuffed out by Robson deep into injury time.
The Brazilian made the most of some lackadaisical defending, cantering into the box to put the icing on the cake for Gold Coast.
Earlier a stumble from Brisbane skipper Craig Moore on the cusp of the box gave Joel Porter enough space to find Smeltz, who snuck in front of Bob Malcolm and clipped home after 17 minutes.
Amazingly it would be the only time United entered the box in the first half, while the second stanza proved just as fruitless - with an error from Liam Reddy the only other genuine chance the visitors had apart from Robson's major and Culina's slick strike.
The buildup for the game, which dated back over a year ago to United's entry into the competition, was expectedly animated - and all eyes were soon turned to Suncorp Stadium in expectation of just how heated the rivalry would be on the park.
The hosts looked lively but ultimately were far too wasteful, there only goal coming late in the game from the penalty spot after Matt Osman carelessly fouled Michael Zullo in the box.