The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Roar fight back to draw with Central Coast

Roar Rookie
27th December, 2014
6

Despite having to come from behind twice, Brisbane say they were disappointed to walk away with a 3-3 A-League draw against the Central Coast on Saturday.

The Roar dominated possession in the first half and led 1-0 thanks to a 45th minute goal from Jean Carlos Solorzano.

However, the Mariners rallied in the second half in front of 9932 fans at Central Coast Stadium as they tried to avoid a club record 11-game winless streak in the A-League.

They equalised in the 56th minute via Eddy Bosnar and went ahead through Matt Simon in the 63rd.

The Roar levelled in the 71st through James Donachie before the hosts made it 3-2 via substitute Kim Seung-yong in the 80th.

Two minutes later Solorzano was on hand at the far post to score off a Daniel Bowles cross.

Brisbane were chasing a third win in five games under their new coach Frans Thijssen, who said the result was a let down considering their early dominance.

“I think in the first half we were on top and we got the lead, then you expect that we use space in the second half when they have to push forward a little more,” Thijssen said.

Advertisement

“But after that, 1-1 they were back in the game with the crowd behind them and it was a lot more difficult for us.

“We had to come back two times to equalise … I’m a little bit disappointed with a draw.”

Mariners coach Phil Moss rode a roller-coaster of emotions on the sideline but he was again frustrated with the lapses in concentration from his backline.

“One of the key areas we’ve been focusing on is concentration and we let ourselves down again in that department,” Moss said.

“There’s no shying away from it. We conceded three goals at home and they probably only had four meaningful shots.

“That’s very disappointing.”

Solorzano’s double ended a goal-scoring drought for the Costa Rican striker stretching back to January 2011.

Advertisement

His first came when he was left with time and space in the penalty area after a deflected shot fell perfectly for him.

The Mariners survived a close-range free kick in the 50th minute after a controversial back-pass call before they equalised through veteran centre-back Bosnar.

Momentum was with the hosts as Simon was then gifted a tap-in goal after Jamie Young made two reflex blocks but the Roar failed to clear the ball.

Towering centre-back Donachie scored with a deflected header from a corner before Kim hit an open net after a shot from Simon was blocked into his path.

But again Central Coast’s excitement was short-lived as Solorzano provided the final equaliser.

The result lifted the defending champions to 11 points, two points outside the top six, and left the Mariners on just eight from 12 games.

close