Sydney FC withstood a frantic finish from Queensland Roar to secure a 0-0 draw at Suncorp Stadium tonight and set up a mouth-watering conclusion to the A-League title race.
Four teams sit atop the A-League ladder heading into the final round with tonight’s stalemate seeing the Roar and Sydney join Central Coast and Newcastle on 31 points.
The Roar top the table on goal difference.
But they could very nearly have claimed sole possession of top spot after dominating large portions of tonight’s match and creating more chances in front of a season best 31,933-strong crowd.
The draw gave Sydney the distinction of becoming the first A-League club to go through a regular season unbeaten away from home.
But Sydney coach John Kosmina said after the match he had been determined to earn a result tonight, injecting his big name imports, Michael Bridges and Juninho, into the game just before the 65th minute.
“We came here to be a little bit more offensive and win the game,” Kosmina said.
“We want that first position.”
The substitutions appeared to fire the home team, however, who looked the most likely to score in a tense final 10 minutes.
The Roar’s best opportunity came in the 85th minute when substitute Mitchell Nicholls, who was a last minute call-up for an injured Robbie Kruse, made a run down the right and drilled a shot at Sydney ‘keeper Clint Bolton, who was able to deflect the ball away from goal.
The ball then fell to another Roar substitute, Marcinho, who was unable to steer the ball into the net while under pressure.
Just seconds later Marcinho attacked again, and drew a great save from Bolton under immense pressure.
The crowd were on their feet for the ensuing corner, in scenes rarely scene for an A-League match in Brisbane, but the visitors again managed to clear the ball from danger.
Kosmina paid tribute to the Roar’s mobility, with the Queensland midfield dominating Sydney due to strong performances from veteran Danny Tiatto and 18-year-old winger Tahj Minniecon.
“They’re the most mobile team in the A-League, in terms of their pace and their intensity,” he said.
Roar coach Frank Farina was pleased with his team’s effort, and despite a number of missed opportunities, will be confident heading into the club’s first A-League finals campaign.
“I thought we dominated the general play,” Farina said.
“Sydney are a good side, they’re hard to break down, and in those sorts of games you may only get two or three opportunities and unfortunately we didn’t take them.”
The Roar have the luxury of playing the final game of round 21, meaning they will know what is needed for them to take the top spot on the ladder.
Farina said a win against Adelaide at Hindmarsh Stadium will all but seal the minor premiership.
“If we win I think we will most likely be minor premiers, unless someone belts someone else by five or six,” he said.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Carlo Ancelotti was getting in the thick of the post-game party!
Security had just removed one of the spectators from the pitch when another ran onto the field causing a delay of around two minutes.
Vinicius Junior scored the second and from there, there was no chance of Dortmund catching them.
Real Madrid were outplayed for much of their 18th Champions League final but it ended in a familiar story - Los Blancos lifting the…
Daniel Carvajal casually headed the ball past the keeper from Toni Kroos' corner.
The scores were still locked at nil-all, how costly will these failed chances be for the Bundesliga side?
