Skip to main content

Berisha sent off as Roar scrape past Heart

Brisbane's win was tainted by the sending off of their star striker, who became the first A-League player to receive three red cards in one season when he was given his marching orders in the 49th minute.

The Heart took a first half lead thanks to a delightful team goal finished off by Aziz Behich before Dimitri Petratos equalised for the Roar before the break.

As it was only his second direct dismissal of the campaign he will only receive an automatical one-match suspension, meaning he could be back for the Roar's final regular-season game.

John Van't Schip's side thought they had won a penalty with just 34 seconds of the match gone when referee Chris Beath pointed to the spot after Liam Miller pulled down Behich in the area, but he overturned the decision when he saw the offside flag raised.

Brisbane's deep-lying playmaker Luke Brattan was absent from the starting lineup for the first time in 38 matches, and his side clearly lacked an anchor in midfield as the Heart took control of the centre.

Berisha was dismissed soon after the break when he and Velaphi dove in at the same time for a ball, and the Albanian's boot rolled over the ball and into the keeper's head.