Steven Lustica scored a hat-trick as Brisbane Roar kept their top-six hopes alive with an emphatic 6-1 win over Central Coast Mariners in their A-League clash at the Suncorp Stadium.
The reigning champions have ended a four-game losing run, while the Mariners sit eighth in the ladder following an inconsistent spell in the league.
The home side were the first to ask questions on the ball when Andrija Kaluderovic got the first shot on target by launching a left-footed effort towards goal, but it was saved in the bottom right corner.
Kaluderovic's first opportunity went missing, but he managed to strike minutes later after holding strong in the box and slotting into the back of the net.
The momentum stayed with Brisbane as Lustica doubled his side's lead with an effort from outside of the box following a corner.
The home team began to run riot with the half-time whistle approaching as Lustica nabbed his second by going alone and drilling the ball into the bottom right corner.
Just three minutes into the second 45, half-time substitute Devante Clut made it four when he received the ball on the break and his shot from the centre of the box found the bottom left corner.
Brisbane continued their dominance when Brandon Borrello got on the scoresheet with a left-footed effort which was hammered into the top of the goal, leaving the Mariners with a mammoth task of getting anything out of the game.
The hosts took their foot off the gas for a period in the second half, and the visitors were able to capitalise when a failed clearance bounced off Daniel Bowles and into his own net to give Mariners a consolation goal.
An offside flag prevented Kaluderovic from getting a second after his attempt went around the goalkeeper and into the net, but Brisbane did manage to add to their impressive lead when Lustica snatched a third by firing the ball home from the centre of the box.
It was too late for the Mariners to cause any trouble and they were forced to accept the heavy defeat.
Danielle Joynson
