Brisbane Roar are in the A-League top six after defeating Central Coast Mariners 2-0, however it may have come at a cost with in-form striker Jean Carlos Solorzano suffering a hamstring injury.

Solorzano scored for the Roar early in the second half when he slotted a penalty kick. That was to be the end of his celebrations though, the striker left the field in the 76th minute clutching at his hamstring.

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The victory saw the Roar, who have looked recharged under new coach Frans Thijssen, leapfrog Melbourne City into sixth.

It was the Roar’s third win in a row, the first time they have strung together a hat-trick of victories since December 2013.

The Roar were wasteful in the first half as the teams went into the break with the scores locked at nil-all.

Brisbane had 11 shots in the first 45 minutes to Central Coasts’s four, including a couple of gilt-edged opportunities to Solorzano and Thomas Broich.

A chance went begging for Solorzano in the seventh minute when he received the ball at the far post but his shot was off target.

Broich should have made the Mariners pay late in the half when Central Coast keeper Liam Reddy handed it over to him cheaply but he delivered it right back.

The Roar took the advantage five minutes after the break after Eddy Bosnar was penalised for a handball inside the box and Solorzano made no mistake from the spot, bagging his third goal in as many games.

Luke Brattan almost made the Mariners pay for another foul when he hit a superb free kick in the 65th minute, however Reddy got a fist to it at the last second.

Reddy was called on a few minutes later when Matt McKay split the Mariners straight down the middle and Brandon Borello had a chance but his first touch was too heavy.

The Mariners had a couple of late chances however Andrija Kaluderovic, playing in his first match in Brisbane colours, sealed the match with another penalty after Mariners youngster Anthony Kallik brought Broich down in the area.

– AAP