A point on the road is always welcome but Brisbane believe they can win every game and this was a match where the Roar had the chances to secure all three points.
With a strong breeze in their backs, the Roar started strongly in their Round 8 Hyundai A-League away match against Newcastle Jets with Thomas Broich and Jamie Maclaren delivering strong shots early that underlined the visitors’ intention to attack.
The match ended 1-1 with the Roar taking the lead early in the second half but conceded an equaliser 19 minutes later.
The Jets had the first real chance to score in the 13th minute when a powerful shot from 20m by David Carney rattled the Roar woodwork.
Four minutes later the Roar matched that effort. Dimitri Petratos fired a blistering shot from 25 metres that struck the far upright.
It ricocheted back into play but bounced high and Broich couldn’t keep his off-balance shot on target.
Despite dominating possession, the visitors were lucky not to go into the break a goal down.
Jets youngster Braedyn Crowley, a North Queensland product, scooped a far-post effort onto the woodwork from 1.5 metres when an open goal beckoned.
The second half was entertaining with a series of attacks and counter-attacks.
The Roar introduced Henrique, Javier Hervas and Steven Lustica off the bench. Despite dominating the latter stages, and creating good chances for The Slippery Fish and Spaniard Hervas to score, Brisbane couldn’t find the net for a winner.
Brisbane piled on the pressure in the final minutes and forced free kicks and corners but the home defence stayed tight and the Roar were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw.
Goals
52′ : Brandon Borrello made a strong run from the centre circle into the middle of the Jets defence. He played a nice ball to the right where Jamie Maclaren found space. Maclaren controlled well and cut back to open up the goalmouth and curled a nice left-foot shot into the far side of the goal. 0-1
71′ : A David Carney corner from the left swung awkwardly in the strong breeze. The Roar defence let it bounce and were suddenly in trouble. Jets substitute Ryan Kitto played a short pass to defender Ben Kantarovksi who poked in a shot at the near-post. 1-1
Quote unquote
Brisbane Roar Head Coach John Aloisi : “We know if we keep on creating chances we’re going to score goals. If we weren’t creating chances then I’d be worried.”
Roar goal-scorer Jamie Maclaren: “I thought we were the better side in the second half. I had a chance and probably could have scored two but that’s football. We will go back and (prepare for) another away game next week (against Western Sydney).
“It was hard to break them (Newcastle) down. We created enough chances to win the game and (a draw) is pretty disappointing.”
Talking point
Television commentators speculated on whether Daniel Bowles deserved a second yellow card for stopping Jets dangerman Leonard in the 77th minute but how about his superb tackle on the same player to snuff out an 80th minute counter attack by Newcastle?
It was one of the tackles of the season and underlined how much progress Bowles has made this season under Head Coach John Aloisi.
What’s next
The Roar travel to Sydney next Saturday to play Western Sydney Wanderers (6.30pm KO Qld time). After that is the much-anticipated visit to Cairns on Saturday, 12 December where the Roarplay Wellington Phoenix (4.15pm KO Qld time).
Brisbane are away to Central Coast on Sunday, 20 December (4pm KO Qld time) then return to Suncorp Stadium (where the surface will be re-laid after the concerts) to play Melbourne City on Sunday, 27 December 27 (6pm KO Qld time). For tickets to that match click here
Match stats
Hyundai A-League Round 8, Newcastle Jets FC v Brisbane Roar FC at Hunter Stadium, Saturday, 28 November
NEWCASTLE JETS FC 1 (Ben Kantarovksi 71′)
BRISBANE ROAR FC 1 (Jamie Maclaren 52′)
Half time: 0-0
Crowd: 10,115
Brisbane Roar FC: 3.Shane STEFANUTTO, 7.CORONA, 9.Jamie MACLAREN (8.Steven LUSTICA 88′), 13.Jade NORTH, 14.Daniel BOWLES, 17.Matt McKAY (c), 19.Jack HINGERT, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 22.Thomas BROICH, 23.Dimitri PETRATOS (18.Javier HERVAS 67′), 28.Brandon BORRELLO (10.HENRIQUE 59′).
Unused substitutes: 15.James DONACHIE, 36.Andre JANNESE (gk)
Yellow cards: Daniel BOWLES 60′
Red cards: Nil
Newcastle Jets FC: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI, 6.Cameron WATSON (24.Nicholas COWBURN 81′), 7.Enver ALIVODIC (28.Ryan KITTO 69′), 8.Mateo POLJAK, 10.LEONARDO (17.Radovan PAVICEVIC 88′), 13.Lee KI-JE, 22.Lachlan JACKSON, 23.David CARNEY, 27.Braedyn CROWLEY.
Unused substitutes: 14.Mitch COOPER, 20.Ben KENNEDY (gk).
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil
Referee: Peter Green
Assistant Referee 1: Scott Edeling; Assistant Referee 2: James Cleal; Fourth Official: Stephen Lucas.
