Young Roar played out a 1-1 draw against Olympic FC in NPL Queensland Round 20 action at Goodwin Park on Sunday afternoon.
The sides couldn’t be split after trading second half goals through James Durrington and Lathan Dunn.
Roar started the contest brightly and came within inches of an opener after just three minutes when Rylan Brownlie smashed an effort against the crossbar after being picked out by a James Murphy cutback.
Ryan Lethlean had the ball in the back of the net in the 23rd minute following a scramble in the Olympic penalty area on the end of a Roar corner but the linesman’s flag was up for offside.
Five minutes later Dunn had arguably the home sides best chance of the opening half when he sent an unmarked header wide at the back post from close range before Fumiya Somo and Daniel Leck came close with efforts from distance.
Dunn opened the scoring in the 48th minute when he got in behind the Roar defence and fired his shot into the bottom corner from a tight angle.
Down but not out Roar kept pushing and almost levelled proceedings with a close range Lethlean header moments later.
Roar found an equaliser in the 72nd minute when Durrington placed a first-time effort into the back of the net after being played in by Murphy with Matt Lugo in no mans land with the keeper unable to punch clear Dylan Meinicke’s initial cross.
Despite chances at both ends in the closing exchanges neither side was able to find a matchwinner with Brownlie coming closest with a header that forced Lugo into a strong reflex save in the 78th minute
Sunday’s draw leaves Roar in tenth position on the league table with just two rounds left to play in the 2024 NPL Queensland regular season.
Roar’s U23 defeated Olympic 3-2 to remain top of the league thanks to a brace from Zac Fowler along with a strike from Christian Mladenis.
Focus for Roar now shifts to next Saturday’s trip to Coplick Sports Park to face Gold Coast United in Round 21 action.
MATCH DETAILS
NPL Queensland Men 2024 – Round 20: Olympic FC vs Brisbane Roar
Goodwin Park, Yeronga
Sunday, 4 August
Olympic FC – 1 (Lathan DUNN 48’)
Brisbane Roar – 1 (James DURRINGTON 72’)
