Brisbane Roar have shared the spoils with Western Sydney Wanderers in a Pre-Christmas battle on Friday night at Suncorp Stadium.
A stunning volley from Corey Brown opened the scoring and despite dominating the majority of the second half the Roar weren’t able to hold for all three points, having to settle for a 1-1 draw.
The home side had chances to open up a two-goal margin during the second half but a Dimas free-kick cancelled out Brown’s opener as the Roar move up to second on the Hyundai A-League ladder.
For a Hyundai A-League ladder click HERE.
“We’re disappointed but we’re pleased with the performance,” Head Coach John Aloisi said.
“We played some great stuff in the second half and it was probably some of our best football this season.
“We expected to get stronger as the season goes on and we feel that we’re improving and getting better each game. As a coach and as a playing group, that’s all we are looking to do.”
Chances were few and far beaten throughout an even opening half as both sides struggled to break through the respective back fours and both goalkeepers were rarely called upon.
The Roar clicked into gear in the late moments of the first period, stringing together consistent attacks but were unable to find the lethal killer ball.
A moment of sheer brilliance from Corey Brown opened the scoring on 53 minutes. The fullback latched on to a Thomas Broich cross at the back post and thundered a first-time volley in the roof of the net.
The Roar thrived on the momentum provided from Brown’s opener and dominated the following period of play.
A desparate goal-line block from Jack Clisby is all the stood between the Roar doubling their advantage moments later following delightful lead-up play bewteen Jamie Maclaren and Tommy Oar.
The Wanderers were able to take advantage of an opportunity against the run of play and found an equaliser through a well-struck free-kick from Dimas.
The affair turned into an enticing end-to-end encounter as both sides threatened in search of a second goal.
Western Sydney played the final moments of the match with 10-men after Brendon Santalab was sent off for a swinging arm on Jade North.
Jack Hingert was strong is his 100th Brisbane Roar Hyundai A-League match while the Roar celebrated an attendance milestone with the two millionth regular season spectator passing through the Suncorp Stadium gates.
Goals
53′: Thomas Broich curls a ball to the back post where it’s met by the oncoming Corey Brown who doesn’t break stride before slamming a first-time volley in the top corner. 1-0
69′: Dimas curls a free-kick on the edge of the area towards the far post and it dips just under the bar. 1-1
Talking Point
Jack Hingert was a strong member of the Roar’s back four in his 100th Hyundai A-League match, becoming just the 10th player in club history to reach the milestone.
Quote unquote
Brisbane Roar Head Coach JOHN ALOISI: “The first 20 minutes was an arm-wrestle, and it opened up towards the end of the first half and we began to create chances.
On the lead up to Corey Brown’s goal: “We worked on it during the week because we thought we could exploit with the way the Wanderers defend.
“It was hard to create space until the last 10 minutes of the first half. Once that happened we created more chances and we started to get Corey (Brown) and Jack (Hingert) more involved.
Brisbane Roar defender COREY BROWN: “We played for the three points but it wasn’t to be. They fought hard and got the equaliser.
On his opening goal : “I knew I was going to get there. I saw it was going over the back and though I’d throw my foot at it and it went in the top corner.
“We’re playing good football. That’s ten games unbeaten now and it’s hard to get that in football so we’ll take the positives out of the game and look forward now.”
Brisbane Roar midfielder THOMAS KRISTENSEN: “I thought we were by far the better team today but a good free-kick from Dimas and suddenly the game’s open.
“We’ve encountered different scenarios during the season, we’ve been up and down but we’re improving every game. We control the game more than we had at the start of the season.
“We’re playing the way we want to play. It was disappointing to not get the three points but now there’s another game on Friday.”
What’s next?
The Roar head to Allianz Stadium to face table-toppers Sydney FC on Friday, 30 December (6:50pm KO) before returning home to face Newcastle Jets at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, 7 January (4:35pm KO).
Match Stats
Hyundai A-League Round 12, Brisbane Roar v Western Sydney Wanderers, Friday, 23 December at Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane Roar 1 (Brown 53′)
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Dimas 69′)
Half-time: 0-0
Crowd: 13,110
Brisbane Roar FC : 1.Michael THEO (gk), 3.Luke DEVERE, 5.Corey BROWN, 7.Thomas KRISTENSEN, 9.Jamie MACLAREN, 11.Tommy OAR (28.Brandon BORRELLO 75′), 13.Jade NORTH, 17.Matt MCKAY (c), 19.Jack HINGERT, 22.Thomas BROICH, 23.Dimitri PETRATOS (15.Manuel ARANA 88′)
Unused substitutes: 4.Daniel BOWLES, 8.Jacob PEPPER
Yellow cards: Dimitri PETRATOS 45′, Jade NORTH 68′
Red cards: Nil
Western Sydney Wanderers FC: 1.Jerrad TYSON (gk), 3.Jack CLISBY, 6.Mitch NICHOLS, 8.Dimas, 12.Scott NEVILLE, 13.Bruno PINATARES (15.Kearyn BACCUS 59′), 14.Jumpei KUSUKAMI, 16.Jaushua SOTIRIO (10.Nicolas MARTINEZ 59′), 17.Aritz BORDA, 22.Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, 23.Lachlan SCOTT (11.Brendon SANTALAB 65′)
Unused substitutes: 20.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 42.Keanu BACCUS
Yellow cards: Jumpei KUSUKAMI 43′, Brendon SANTALAB 66′, Jack CLISBY 86′
Red cards: Brendon SANTALAB 90′
Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones; Assistant Referee 1: David Walsh; Assistant Referee 2: Anton Shchetinin; Fourth Official: Jarred Gillett
