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Sydney midfielder Stuart Musialik stole an incredible 1-1 draw against Queensland Roar tonight with a neat strike deep into stoppage time.
No Glory for Perth as Victory tear them apart
Scottish import Charlie Miller continued the incredible start to his A-League career, scoring his fifth goal in seven appearances in what looked to be a 49th minute winner at the Sydney Football Stadium.
But right at the death Musialik latched onto a long throw in from fellow Socceroos squad member Shannon Cole to snatch an unlikely point for the hosts.
The match was not without controversy either, as Sydney were denied a strong penalty claim in the 80th minute when Roar midfielder Massimo Murdocca appeared to handle the ball inside the area.
Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek was part of the 12,403-strong crowd in Sydney to analyse the performances of three players he named in the 35-man squad to face Qatar in the October 15 World Cup qualifier in Brisbane – Roar skipper Craig Moore and Sydney pair Musialik and Cole.
Verbeek is likely to whittle down the squad before it assembles for the first time in Brisbane on Wednesday and tonight could have been a final audition, particularly for Musialik and Cole.
Miller, who has one international cap, has been a revelation since joining the Roar from Belgian side Lierse SK, already breaking an A-League record by scoring in each of his first four matches.
The 32-year-old former Rangers midfielder Miller netted with a low shot from just outside the penalty area after Sydney’s defenders afforded him too much space.
Unheralded 21-year-old Matt Mundy held his own at the back for Queensland in his A-League debut.
An accountancy student and part-time retail worker, Mundy got the call-up because fellow rookie Luke DeVere was on duty with the Young Socceroos, Ben Griffin is suspended and Josh McCloughan is still sidelined.
“It would have been an injustice (to come away with nothing),” Sydney FC coach John Kosmina said.
“Queensland probably got – I wouldn’t quite say more than they deserved – but it wouldn’t be far off the mark saying that because the way we played in the first half we basically tore them to pieces.
“In the second half we only got ourselves in trouble – I don’t think they outplayed us, we outplayed ourselves.”
Queensland Roar coach Frank Farina rejected Kosmina’s assessment.
“What game was he watching? Tore us apart? Maybe he’s talking it up because they were lucky to get the three points,” said Farina.
“I think Kossie should go buy a lotto ticket tonight – they got out of jail with 30 seconds to go.”
Farina felt Miller should have closed the game out late in the second half when he stole the ball from Sydney captain Tony Popovic and flashed his shot high and wide with only the ‘keeper to beat.
Kosmina, meanwhile, was left to rue another unsuccessful penalty claim.
“I don’t think we can buy a penalty at the moment, we’ve got more chance of winning lotto,” he said.
Musialik said it was unlikely his goal would make any difference to Verbeek’s thinking, given he was not picked in the squad for his goal-scoring ability.
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