Queensland roars past Sydney

Queensland Roar has earned a deserved place in next Sunday's Hyundai A-League preliminary final against either the Central Coast or Newcastle after beating a 10-man Sydney FC 2-0 in Brisbane.

The much anticipated semi-final clash was delayed almost 40 minutes after a vicious storm hit Suncorp Stadium just before kick-off.

But a 36,221 record-breaking home crowd didn't have to wait much longer to see Queensland finally open its season's account against Sydney thanks to Reinaldo's composed finish.

Worse was to come for the visitors when Robbie Middleby received his marching orders from referee Mark Shield for a professional foul on Matt McKay, leaving Sydney to play a man light for 70 minutes.

And John Kosmina's side's resistance was finally broken when Sasa Ognenovski rifled home from the penalty spot after FC skipper Tony Popovic pushed over substitute Tahj Minniecon.

"Against 10 men sometimes it can get difficult but I thought we kept possession of the ball really well," said Frank Farina afterwards. "But it was still well and truly alive until that second goal went in so it was nerve-wracking at times."

A torrential downpour 25 mins before the scheduled 7.30pm kick-off left the ground waterlogged as the players attempted to complete their warm-up and saw the game initially delayed a half-hour.

As the rain slowed, and after inspecting the pitch firsthand, the refereeing team and local ground staff agreed on an 8.07pm start, with the heavy conditions certainly conspiring to assist Queensland taking the lead on 13 minutes.

The Roar hadn't broken Sydney's resolute defence in five meetings this season, so perhaps it was no surprise Reinaldo's seventh of a fruitful season had to be a genuine goal of the season contender.

First, the Brazilian anticipated Craig Moore's diagonal through ball slowing up on the sodden pitch.

Then, after shrugging off Ufuk Talay's challenge, the 23-year-old bore down on Mark Milligan, effortlessly skipping inside the Qantas Socceroos defender and lofting a delicate finish high over Clint Bolton into the roof of the net.

Seven minutes later and with Queensland dominating, referee Shield decided Middleby's crude lunge on McKay 35 metres from goal denied the diminutive Roar midfielder a clear goalscoring opportunity and brandished a straight red card.

Bolton's sprawling saves from Marcinho's skidding drive and Reinaldo's powerful downward header kept Sydney in the hunt at half-time.

While soon after the restart the ball just wouldn't drop for Steve Corica after Moore misjudged the flight of Terry McFlynn's centre. Ruben Zadkovich blasted wildly at the loose ball.

Reinaldo limped off with a knee injury and Alex Brosque was withdrawn for Brendon Santalab but Queensland still looked more likely to increase rather than squander its slim lead.

The Roar goalscorer's replacement Simon Lynch had an effort disallowed for offside, then forced the excellent Bolton into another fine save.

But the Sydney shot-stopper could do nothing to prevent Ognenovski's confident penalty as his side slipped to its first away defeat since last year's semi-final loss in Newcastle.

"It was always going to be tough once Robbie Middleby got sent off but I think we did quite well to be honest, And if you look at where we've come from we've had a good run. We've lost two in 14," said Kosmina.

"But it came down to chances. We could have finished Queensland off two weeks ago."

Farina described Reinaldo's injury as 'more of a cork' and said he expected his No.1 forward to pull through before the preliminary final.

Queensland Roar 2 (Reinaldo 13, Ognenovski (pen) 83)
Sydney FC 0
36,221 at Suncorp Stadium