A touch of class from Alex Brosque ensured Sydney FC salvaged a point from their clash with A-League high fliers Brisbane Roar at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday night.
The striker’s clever first-half chip secured the reigning champions a 1-1 draw to follow last week’s first win of the season.
The Roar had taken the lead in the seventh minute through defender Luke DeVere and a share of the spoils kept the second-placed side unbeaten in seven matches.
Sydney, whose winless run stretched 10 games prior to last Sunday’s 3-0 win over Perth, remain in last place but are now at least equal on eight competition points with ninth-placed Newcastle, who face Melbourne Heart on Sunday.
It looked unlikely the Sky Blues would get anything out of the match in front of 10,746 fans as they were totally outplayed for much of the opening half.
The Roar took the lead when DeVere took advantage of a deflection from a corner kick to score the third A-League goal of his career.
The defender beat some questionable defence from Mark Bridge and Bruno Cazarine to nod the ball home after Thomas Broich’s corner took a looping deflection off Sydney midfielder Hiro Moriyasu.
The visitors should have doubled their advantage just a minute later when Broich squared a ball brilliantly to set up Massimo Murdocca, but the midfielder drilled a low shot just wide.
The Roar appeared to be well in control against a disjointed Sydney for most of the first half with a visibly-frustrated Brosque looking Sydney’s only real attacking threat.
And it was the speedy striker who got the breakthrough his side badly needed when he equalised with a deft chip in the 34th minute.
Bridge headed on an Ivan Necevski goal kick and a poor decision from DeVere to head back towards goal saw Brosque pounce and get just enough of a touch to loop the ball past Michael Theoklitos.
Sydney had Necevski to thank for keeping them in the match, the goalkeeper making great saves to deny Murdocca just before halftime and Matthew Smith in the second half.
Both coaches made attacking changes in the second half but it was Brisbane who peppered Sydney’s goal and could have bagged three points had Matt McKay not missed from point-blank range in the 86th minute.
Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka admitted his side was fortunate to come away with a share of the points.
“I have to say that sometimes one point, it’s like losing, sometimes it’s like a win so tonight I think one point for us is lucky because opponent played better than us,” Lavicka said.
“We scored early goal, it was unlucky for us… but we scored a nice goal.
“But most of the game I had to say they were better than us.”
The usually diplomatic Czech admitted he considered the Roar the best team in the A-League.
“At the moment, probably yes,” he said, adding he also rated first-placed Adelaide.
Roar coach Ange Postecoglou, however, felt his side had let three points slip.
“It was a frustrating night for us for sure, we didn’t play well first half and that was the most disappointing thing,” he said.
“Sure, we scored a goal and had some opportunities but we didn’t play the way I’d like us to play.
“We’ve got some work to do … we’re still a work in progress.”
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.
Joe Lolley was outstanding for the Sky Blues, scoring a brace as Sydney FC equaled their biggest ever victory.
Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
Mathew Leckie played a pivotal part in Melbourne City claiming an 8-nil win; playing a role in several of his team's goals.
The loser of the Sydney Derby will be under immense pressure entering the final three matches of the season.
Anthony Caceres is a player with immense talent and has a fantastic work rate, broke the deadlock against the Mariners in the 74th minute.
