Sydney FC left it late to grab an equaliser against Brisbane Roar on Saturday night as a strike from Alex Parsons against his former club cancelled out Nikola Mileusnic’s first half effort at Allianz Stadium.
The Sky Blues could and possibly should have won the game after controlling the encounter with Joe Lolley missing a second half penalty.
Sydney FC 1 (Parsons 90’+4’) drew Brisbane Roar 1 (Mileusnic 34′)
Moments That Mattered:
MILEUSNIC GIVES ROAR THE LEAD 34’- Joe Knowles crosses from the right wing to find Nikola Mileusnic at the far post. The Brisbane roar forward is then able to control the ball on his chest and fire a right footed shot into the top left-hand corner of the Sydney FC net. Brisbane Lead 1-0.
CACERES A WHISKER AWAY 53’- Anthony Caceres picks up the ball in midfield and drives through the Brisbane defence, his curving shot takes a slight deflection, and flashes inches wide of the upright, closer than ever to finding the top right-hand corner.
SYDNEY FC MISS PENALTY- 63’- The ball is crossed to Joe Lolley, who fires a shot into the outstretched arm of Jordan Courtney-Perkins. The referee doesn’t hesitate to blow for a penalty; however Joe Lolley’s attempt at the bottom right corner from the spot is saved by Jordan Holmes.
PARSONS LEVELS IT AT THE DEATH- 90+4’- Joel King’s low cross hits a number of Roar defenders in the middle and ricochets into the path of Alex Parsons who sticks out a leg to poke it past Holmes and send the Sky-Blue fans into delirium.
What They Said: Steve Corica: “I’m pleased to get the result at the end, but we played really well, we should’ve won that game.
“We should have been a little better at forging clear cut chances, but towards the end we did well, we were putting balls in the box and making chances.
“We lacked the final pass in the final third a bit, but once we went behind, we changed a few things, and caused some problems for them in the end.
“Yazbek is a very good player, and he gives us lots of running, but we have players who can play in that position and fill that spot.”
Match Report: Sydney FC came into this clash with three wins in their last three games, and started as they meant to continue, completely dominating affairs from minute one. Much of the early stages of the game were played in Brisbane’s half, and Sydney’s front three were already testing the Roar defence.
The Sky Blues would continue to mount the pressure on, as Joe Lolley would have his long-range effort pushed away from goal, and Max Burgess would go close to breaking the deadlock on multiple occasions.
The Sydney FC pressure would not pay off for the home side, and a Brisbane roar counterattack would provide the first goal in this contest. Joe Knowles found himself in space on the right and his cross would find Nikola Mileusnic. Mileusnic would take the ball down and rifle his shot past Andrew Redmayne’s outstretched right hand into the top left corner.
Despite responding well with several attacks, Sydney FC were not able to find an equaliser before half time, leaving the Sky Blues 1-0 down, and with lots to do in the second half.
The second half would start in a very balanced fashion, with both sides knowing one goal could change the game. Sydney FC looked to find the illusive equaliser and came their closest through Anthony Caceres. The midfielder burst through the Brisbane defence, before curling his effort narrowly wide of the right post.
Sydney FC would start to pile the pressure on in search of a goal, and when Joe Lolley’s left footed effort came off Jordan Courtney-Perkins’ forearm Sydney FC were awarded a penalty and a chance to draw things level. Sydney would have to continue fighting for their equaliser however after Joe Lolley’s penalty was saved by Jordan Holmes plunging down to his left.
Sydney FC would throw everything at the Brisbane defence in the last 20 minutes of the game, but the waves of Sky Blue were matched by the Roar defence and despite efforts from Alex Parsons and Patrick Yazbek, Sydney FC looked to be down and out. However, with the minutes ticking down, Joel King found space on the left wing to fizz a low ball across the face, and after bouncing off two Brisbane defenders, it fell to new signing Alex Parsons who poked it home against his former club, opening his account for the season.
Sydney FC would see out a 1-1 draw against Brisbane Roar in a valiant performance that saw the Sky Blues fight right to the death to get a point.
Sydney FC: 1. ANDREW REDMAYNE (GK), 2. JAMES DONACHIE, 4. ALEX WILKINSON (C), 8. PAULO RETRE (16. PATRICK YAZBEK-70’), 10. JOE LOLLEY, 12. PATRICK WOOD (11 ROBERT MAK- 57’), 17. ANTHONY CACERES (3. JOEL KING 86’), 18. DIEGO CABALLO, 22. MAX BURGESS (21. ALEX PARSONS-70’), 23. RHYAN GRANT, 26. LUKE BRATTAN
Unused Subs: 20. TOM HEWARD-BELLE (GK), 28. JAKE GIRDWOOD-REICH, 29 AARON GURD.
Yellow Cards: James Donachie 80’, Joe Lolley 90’.
Red Cards: None
Brisbane Roar: 23. JORDAN HOLMES (GK), 2. SCOTT NEVILLE, 3. JORDAN COURTNEY-PERKINS, 5. THOMAS ALDRED (C), 10. NIKOLA MILEUSNIC (17. CARLO ARMIENTO-65’), 12. TARAS GOMULKA (7. RAHMAT AKBARI-65’), 22. STEFAN SCEPOVIC (14. ROBBIE KRUSE-83’), 26. JAMES O’SHEA, 27. KAI TREWIN, 28. JOSEPH KNOWLES (13. HENRY HORE-90’), 35. LOUIS ZABALA.
Unused Subs: 1. MACKLIN FREKE (GK), 15. NOAH SMITH, 21. MARCEL CANADI,
Yellow Cards: Jordan Courtney-Perkins- 64’, Jordan Holmes-84’.
Red Cards: None
Venue: Allianz Stadium
Referee: Lachlan Keevers
Attendance: 14,168
