Cooler than James Todd Smith himself, Matt McKay swept back into Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night to inspire Brisbane Roar to a 4-0 punishing of Sydney FC – but this was no breezy effort.
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| Don’t call it a comeback, yeah, he’s been here for years. |
Mulvey said knock them out, and that’s what the two-time Hyundai A-League Champions are out to do this season.
Round Two of the 2012/2013 campaign saw Roar dispatch Melbourne Victory 5-0 in a similar fashion before going on to endure a downward spiral, replace their coach, and eventually ride a Mike Mulvey-led revival to the Semi Finals.
Last season, though, they didn’t have McKay powering their game.
The national team regular has suffered criticism for his deficiencies at left back in green and gold and is not the answer for the soon-to-be new boss. However, sliding back into the talent-drenched midfield of his hometown club is looming as the continuation of a beautiful friendship for player and team.
Against a Sydney side often overwhelmed in the Sunshine State, McKay had a hand in two goals, his likeness captured in tifo form and ignited the enthusiasm of the 21,841 crowd simply by virtue of his unexpected presence.
The first of McKay’s goal involvements came on the second of three first-half strikes for the hosts wherein the Sydney defence stood static in watching Henrqiue just about groin-in the opener.
His second – Roar’s third goal – played its part in further contrasting the level at which the two teams’ plans have thus far arrived, as an attempt to build from the back through Nick Carle was quickly overturned and punished.
Brisbane Roar coach Mike Mulvey pointed to McKay’s dedication in lasting 80 minutes following international duty as matching that of the entire squad’s.
“Matty has got a great constitution,” Mulvey said.
“He is a very fit young man, he looks after himself very well. He was keen to play and I think that shows the spirit amongst the players.
“The attitude of the players is absolutely fantastic.”
If one Matt-named leader wasn’t enough, Brisbane are in the enviable position of having captain Matt Smith – the unlikely opening goal scorer – marshalling a seemingly refocused squad, with the skipper praising his returned teammate’s influence.
“He is a Brisbane boy, he is a Queensland lad. He is a legend of this club,” Smith said.
“I for one am very pleased he has decided to come home.”
“That composure on the ball, I think that really settled us down tonight.”
Composure, coolness; whatever you call it, it’s back in Brisbane.
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