A stoppage time equaliser saw Young Roar snatch a point in a 1-1 draw with Wynnum Wolves in NPL Queensland Round 5 action at Meakin Park on Sunday afternoon.
A 93rd minute strike from skipper, James Nikolvoski grabbed a share of the spoils after a first half Kyren Walters put the visitors ahead in wet conditions in the first ever meeting between the pair at NPL level.
Louis Zabala came close to opening the scoring in the eighth minute when his powerful strike from the top of the box whistle over the crossbar.
Ty Cobb got in behind the Wolves defence on the end of a Jack Benham through ball in the 24th minute but couldn’t direct his effort either side of Tom Lynch in the Wynnum net.
Walters rose highest to meet a Naoki Maeda corner and nod home the games opening goal in the 28th minute.
Rylan Brownlie came within inches of adding to his three NPL goals this season with a first time effort at the near post after being picked out on the end of a lightning Ayom Majok run down the right flank.
Wynnum were reduced to ten men in the 70th minute when Walters received his second caution of the contest for a lunging challenge on Nikolovski.
Eddie Ince forced Lynch into another smart save with a powerful header in the 75th minute on the end of a pinpoint Zabala cross before the midfielder again came close with his head in stoppage time.
Roar found an equaliser in the 93rd minute through Nikolovski, who turned home a Taras Gomulka cross at the back post to snatch a share of the spoils for Young Roar.
Sunday’s 1-1 draw leaves Young Roar, who are unbeaten in their last three matches eighth on the NPL Queensland ladder with five points to their name after five rounds of action.
Roar’s U23 side continued their strong start to the campaign with a 4-3 victory over Wynnum thanks to braces from James Murphy and Zac Fowler.
Next up for Young Roar is a Kappa Pro Series clash against Brisbane Strikers at Nudgee Recreation Reserve on Wedensday night, the sides next league match is against Gold Coast Knights on Friday, April 5.
MATCH DETAILS
NPL Queensland 2024 – Round 5: Brisbane Roar vs Wynnum Wolves
Meakin Park, Slacks Creek
Sunday, 24 March
Brisbane Roar – 1 (James NIKOLOVSKI 93′)
Wynnum Wolves – 1 (Kyren WALTERS 28’)
