Brisbane’s star signing Marco Rojas scored a double in a 3-2 upset win over his former A-League Men club Melbourne Victory as the Roar’s supporter group, The Den, staged a walkout at Suncorp Stadium.
The Den exited the arena in the 25th minute – soon after Rojas had scored the opener – in protest after fans had altercations with the police on the way in.
Veteran Rojas, in his first starting game for the Roar, scored his first goal for the club with a composed, looping header after a shot by 18-year-old Thomas Waddingham was deflected by Victory goalkeeper Paul Izzo.
Victory’s Zinedine Machach equalised with a cracker. Machach went on a scything run down the left and let rip just inside the box with a shot that gave Roar goalie Macklin Freke no chance.
Rojas’s second goal was pure class as he unfurled a diving header at the far post after an inch-perfect pass by Keegan Jelacic in the 56th minute.
He was substituted not long afterwards but an alert Waddingham stepped up to tap home after a shot from Henry Hoare was deflected by Izzo.
Journeyman Roly Bonevacia gave the Victory a sniff when he came off the bench and scored in the 86th minute with a precision strike on his club debut.
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The Roar remain in the finals hunt on 25 points. They are three points behind sixth-placed Western Sydney but have played an extra game.
Victory are in fourth position and never got going against the Roar in hot and humid conditions.
Rojas was the star of the afternoon, with his composure and silky touches on the ball pivotal.
There was high drama in the sultry condition when a group of approximately 30 to 40 supporters who sit in The Den seats at the northern end of the stadium left.
Video of a push and shove by fans with police was earlier posted on social media site X. An officer can be heard to say “that sort of behaviour will not be tolerated”.
AAP has sought comment from the Roar.