Heart hold Wanderers to A-League draw

By Peter Smith / Roar Guru

Melbourne Heart and their embattled coach John Aloisi defied the A-League form book to earn a 1-1 draw against second-placed Western Sydney on Saturday at Parramatta Stadium.

Without a win outside Melbourne since October last year, the bottom-placed Heart went ahead through David Williams, with the Wanderers’ Aaron Mooy equalising just before halftime to ensure the spoils were shared.

Although the Wanderers finished strongly, they created only a handful of clear-cut chances, slipping five points behind leaders Brisbane Roar.

The draw was a major positive for Aloisi with the Heart also buoyed by the long-awaited return of Harry Kewell who made a 20-minute second-half appearance following an eight-week absence.

There was controversy in the first half with a shot cleared off the line by Wanderers fullback Aziz Behich with the ball at least partly over the chalk.

But it was the Heart who took a shock lead as Williams’ cross from the right flank eluded defender Nikolai Topor-Stanley and goalkeeper Ante Covic to nestle inside the far post.

The Wanderers drew level a minute before halftime when Mooy was, not for the first time, allowed too much latitude on the edge of the penalty area and the midfielder duly rifled home a low shot.

Shinji Ono enjoyed a raucous welcome from the 14,549 fans when he entered after the interval but the Japanese forward was unable to inspire the home side despite dominating lengthy periods of the second half.

A sweet injury-time shot by Mooy was tipped centimetres wide of the post, while Spiranovic hit the post from the ensuing corner but there was to be no winner for the fast-finishing Wanderers.

The Crowd Says:

2013-12-08T22:48:28+00:00

AZ_RBB

Guest


Wonderful little gif there. Despite the disappointing crowd figure, the RBB sounded great. We're expecting to take a good 5000 or so up to Newcastle on Saturday night.

2013-12-08T02:26:05+00:00

Matthew Skellett

Roar Rookie


That's a perty impressive salute Pete4 sadly Im doing a contract in the country right now so cant be at the home games until end of Jan I think anyways being watching at tge Narromine RSL and The Canobolus Pub in Orange NSW :-)

2013-12-08T01:09:38+00:00

pete4

Guest


Good result for the Heart away from home. Check this RBB salute out: http://gfycat.com/GentleWiltedBeagle#

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