The Western Sydney Wanderers have been held to a frustrating draw by the Brisbane Roar on Saturday night.
Brandon Borrello bagged a double, including a magnificent goal from a free-kick, but an own goal as well as a strike from young striker Thomas Waddingham forced the Red and Black to share the points.
The Wanderers came into this match off the back of a bye round and a solid victory on the road to Melbourne City, and were confident of harnessing the momentum in this clash.
They started well, with Borrello attempting to catch out Macklin Freke from well inside his own half with an audacious effort, though the Brisbane keeper was able to backpedal and deny the effort.
Borrello fared better in the 10th minute as pinball action after free-kick gave him the chance from a header, and he made no mistake as he buried it into the goal to give Western Sydney a deserved lead.
Whilst the Wanderers were aiming to take control of the match, they were then hit on the break by a Roar counter-attack, as a cross from Bruisbane’s right was swung into the box towards a retreating defence.
Gabriel Cleur did his best to clear the danger, but unfortunately put the ball into his own goal to give Brisbane a leveller.
The action was only just beginning, as the Wanderers retook the lead in the 21st minute, and if Borrello’s first goal was slightly scrappy, his second goal was spectacular.
A foul from the Roar gave the Wanderers a free-kick in a good position, and Borrello stepped up and produced a brilliant dipping and swerving effort that went beyond Freke and into the goal, sparking joyous celebrations in the Red and Black Bloc.
The Wanderers pushed to add to the lead, and Cleur almost made up for his earlier own goal as he smashed a strong effort at goal, requiring Freke to make a diving save.
The Roar withstood a barrage, and equalised once again after another counter-attack, as Waddingham found space on the edge of the area and scored with a low and powerful drive into the corner.
The Wanderers had more chances before the break through Zac Sapsford, but he put one shot wide of the goal and another good header attempt straight at Freke.
After half-time, Nicolas Milanovic had a good opportunity on goal as he cut inside onto his left foot and almost caught out Freke at the near post, but his shot hit the side netting instead.
As the half wore on, a Brisbane side in desperate need of points opted to utilise a conservative low block in defence, putting most of their players behind the ball in an attempt to frustrate the Wanderers attack.
The home side had much of the ball, but even the introduction of Juan Mata and recent supersub Marcus Antonsson couldn’t break the defence open.
The Roar’s measures became more extreme in the latter stages of the match, as they sought to use up the time left as their players went down with injuries and cramp, to the frustration of the Wanderers fans in the stands.
Still the Wanderers pushed for an equaliser even deep into stoppage time, where debutant James Temelkovski found space on the edge of the box and had a strong shot on goal, but unfortunately it went straight at Freke, who subsequently went down with cramp.
Brisbane’s defensive tactics allowed them to hold on until the final whistle and gained them just a second point of the season, whilst the Wanderers will look to build on the positives of the match in their next game at home against Wellington.
