An overturned penalty cost Brisbane Roar dearly as Wellington Phoenix scrapped their way to a scoreless draw at Westpac Stadium on Sunday.
The draw halted Brisbane’s four-game winning streak in a match which might have lacked goals, but wasn’t short on excitement.
Both teams ran themselves to a standstill in front of a vocal 7774-strong crowd, with chances coming at both ends right until the final whistle.
Referee Stephen Lucas’s decision to overturn a 32nd minute penalty after consulting his assistant proved a key moment for the Roar, who were denied time and again by the Phoenix’s makeshift defence.
Brisbane had soaked up the early pressure before finding their timing in the front third, with Thomas Broich looking particularly threatening down the left flank.
The Roar were without their young guns up front, leading goal scorers Jamie Maclaren and Brandon Borrello on Olyroos duty.
But Costa Rican striker Jean Carlos Solorzano stepped up in his first start of the season, proving a real handful.
Brisbane’s hard work looked to have paid off in the 32nd minute when central defender Andrew Durante was judged to have handled in the box as he headed a clearance after a Broich header rocketed back off the crossbar.
But referee Lucas overturned the decision after consulting his assistant, ruling instead that Henrique had pushed the Wellington skipper and then awarded a free kick to the home team.
Henrique and Solorzano featured again four minutes from halftime, Henrique finding space down the right before centering for Solorzano, whose well-struck shot was deflected wide by Moss’s left foot.
Neither team took a step back in a full-on second stanza, Brisbane looking particularly threatening as the hour mark ticked over.
Dimitri Petratos slid a beautiful ball into Henrique, only for stand-in centre back Dylan Fox to steal the ball off the Brazilian’s toe at the last minute.
And Wellington were denied an injury-time winner when Kwabena Appiah saw his scrambled effort blocked by Jade North as the ball ballooned over the crossbar.
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Peter Cotton
Guest
My point exactly jb.
Realfootball
Guest
Thanks Punter. I've returned to some excellent football.
Realfootball
Guest
No choice for me - this is the only time of the year where I have free time, unfortunately. Still, the paint does dry fast!
Realfootball
Guest
The rebuild will be interesting, jb. A quality left back with pace would make a huge difference.
j binnie
Guest
Peter & Waz - Great care has to be taken when analysing these stats posted on the site Waz advised on.Why you may ask.? First of all the question has to be put on say "successful passes" As an example Shane Steffanuto is showing a very high percentage (82%) but if you watch Shane during a game you will find at least 30% of that 80% are made by passing the ball backwards to another defender. The question then arises ,what constitutes a "successful pass" is it a penetrating,defence splitting ball through to a striker or is it a safety first passback to an unmarked mate????? I'll leave it with you. jb
j binnie
Guest
WaZ - Don't get the point of your question but if it interests you the answer is 11. I won't list them unless you need to know but the highest was Adelaide's thrashing of the Jets by 7-0 on the 24th of January, game 69 of the season. Just for your info the total goals at game 70 back then was196. This season it is 193. Ok? Cheers jb.
Waz
Guest
And how many games were won by three goals or more this time last season?
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
Yeah Cooper was more a 1 off ... esp as he basically ask for it ... But re PL fans have a read the comments in the below - it's pretty commonplace .. http://www.football365.com/news/mcclaren-accuses-newcastle-fans-over-thauvin
j binnie
Guest
real - Let your imagination work.Stef is finishing at season's end.Mackay is a poor finisher but still has great mobility. Mackay has played for the Socceroos at Left Back and yet still has the pace to overlap if required..Is it time for a trial ? Play Petratos wide on the right to interchange with McLaren in exploiting the wide areas on each flank. Try Borella in the central role where his energy and strength could be a distinct advantage. This type of thinking has been absent so far this season with the result opponents are now becoming aware of Roar's strengths and weaknesses and play the game accordingly.As I said let your imagination work.Cheers jb
j binnie
Guest
Waz-Just for your information. At game 70 last season the goals per game was standing at 2.8 goals per game. At game 70 this season that same average is standing at ---------- yes you've guessed 2.8 goals per game.Cheers jb
Peter Cotton
Guest
Thanks Waz. Didn't have any difficulty with the site. Unless I am missing something, the information provided is very basic. Percentage of succesful passes, intercepts, duels, etc. Problem is, there is no analysis between say, simple passes and difficult passes. Teams can rack up incredibly impressive passing stats if they play keep ball among the back four, or if forwards and midfielders have a propensity to play passes backwards, or if they are really brave, pass sideways. Anyway, thanks for the link. Used to sit next to a technical director who was keeping stats. Whilst making notes, he would occasionally miss a play. He would ask me what happened. Not sure if he believed my version, but I guess it was better than nothing.
The Other Paul
Guest
I think each club needs to work out what it's best time and day for a match is to maximise attendance and then the HAL and Fox administrators need to work together to optimise things. There's too much lazy excuses for organising going on - TV gets a better product with a better crowd in the house.
The Other Paul
Guest
What if the penalty decision hadn't been reversed?
Bob
Guest
I never understand why BR fans always have to have one of their own players in the cross-hairs. Other supporters seem to slam opponents players while we pick on our own. Why is that?
Bob
Guest
Merick is in my humble opinion the best coach in the League. No argument,
Bob
Guest
I thought about it. Then I couldn't help thinking that if Thomas Broich had scored his chance only a few minutes earlier it would only have been an equaliser, then I thought what if Solorzano scored one of his two chances then it would only have been a consolidation goal, then I started thinking if my dads sister were his brother she'd then be my uncle. Argghhh, and at that point my head exploded with too much thinking :(
Waz
Guest
Peter, try the opta stats on the a league web site: http://www.a-league.com.au/stats-centre They're not as easy to use as they could be but you should be able to filter down on MM there.
Waz
Guest
Ha - mine needs painting too .... I'm smart enough to do it in winter though ;)
BtoPower3
Guest
Brisbane Roar was very lucky to get a point because Bowles made two bad mistakes. Credit should be given to Ernie Merrick for using a high pressure strategy at their front. Brisbane Roar should devise some remedies as MV can see this weakness from the video.
josh
Guest
He is a sensational coach, nearly scored the winner using Appiah - think about that for a second.