BRISBANE Roar's mini-resurgence has continued at Suncorp Stadium, with the champions returning to the top six for the first time since October with a 2-1 win over Wellington Phoenix tonight.

Despite a sizzling strike from in-form Phoenix striker Jeremy Brockie, the Roar recorded back-to-back wins for the first time this season thanks to goals from Besart Berisha and Ben Halloran.



Ironically, Brisbane were last among the playoff berths after their round three 1-1 draw with the Phoenix in Wellington.



Since then it has been tough going for the title-holders, with their largely ordinary form leading to the demise of coach Rado Vidosic last month.



But since new boss Mike Mulvey's appointment, the Roar have won two from three matches to now be sitting in sixth spot, one point ahead of the Phoenix, who remain winless at Suncorp Stadium in eight attempts.



Both sides had players sent off, with Phoenix attacker Tyler Boyd and Roar defender James Donachie dismissed after each receiving two yellow cards.



The Phoenix finished the match with only nine players after fullback Leo Bertos was forced off late after a head clash with Roar substitute Nick Fitzgerald.



media_camera Brisbane Roar striker Besart Berisha celebrates scoring his side's opening goal.



With Wellington coach Ricki Herbert having already used his three permitted substitutes, the Phoenix were well and truly depleted in the dying stages, but still caused the Roar some nervous moments, one in particular when Brisbane goalkeeper Michael Theo dropped a long ball in stoppage time.



But the Roar hung on, much to the relief of the crowd of 11,358.



Both sides were wasteful early in the contest.



The Phoenix had the first chance of the game when Roar gloveman Theo made a mess of trying to clear a Dani Sanchez free-kick to safety.



His ill-directed punch fell into the path of Phoenix attacker Louis Fenton, but the teenager failed to keep his lobbed his shot under the crossbar.



Two minutes later it was Brisbane's turn to blow a golden chance when an unnmarked Berisha directed a shot straight at Phoenix keeper Mark Paston after an impressive build-up involving Henrique and Erik Paartalu.



Fenton was again wasteful soon after, and the Phoenix paid the price in the 15th minute after hardman Manny Muscat lost possession in the centre of the park.

media_camera Brisbane Roar midfielder Thomas Broich skips away from the challenge of Wellington's Leo Bertos.





Thomas Broich pounced, swiftly finding Berisha, who scored his first goal in a month and his sixth of the season.

However, the Phoenix fought hard and were rewarded in the 37th minute when in-form striker Brockie equalised with a sizzling strike.



Afforded too much room by the Roar defence after a quick free-kick from Phoenix skipper Andrew Durante, Brockie unleashed from 25 metres with a shot that was too good for Theo.



It was Brockie's 10th goal of a memorable season for the New Zealand international but just his first in 11 appearances against the Roar.



Both keepers made crucial saves in the early stages of the second half, but it was the Roar who gained the decisive ascendancy in the 59th minute when Halloran scored his third goal of the season after being set up by Broich and Berisha.

BRISBANE ROAR 2 (Besart Berisha 14m, Ben Halloran 58m) WELLINGTON PHOENIX 1 (Jeremy Brockie 37m) at Suncorp Stadium. Crowd: 11,358. Referee: Tim McGilchrist.

Originally published as Resurgent Roar return to top six