Brisbane Roar have extended their undefeated streak to 20 games but had to do it the hard way after a 1-1 draw with a stubborn Perth Glory outfit at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
On a wet and greasy night in Brisbane, the table-topping hosts lacked their usual sharpness and surrendered a shock first-half lead to the Glory.
But Mile Sterjovski’s opener was cancelled out in the second stanza by a Mitch Nichols strike engineered by Brazilian livewire Henrique, who was brought off the bench just minutes before setting Suncorp alight with the creativity that his side was missing.
But Glory held on for a draw, and it puts Brisbane in striking distance of conquering A.P.I.A. Leichhardt’s all-time Australian domestic record of 22 matches undefeated, set during the 1987 NSL season.
As usual this season, Brisbane began dangerously and wonder-kid Kosta Barbarouses earned his first chance of the game in just the sixth minute, when be burst into the right-hand side of the box but fluffed his lines with a shot wide of the far post.
Though the Roar’s slick, one-touch passing game started in full gear – even more impressive than usual given the slippery conditions – the Glory were resolute, soaking up Brisbane’s attacks and being patient enough to wait for opportunities of their own.
Eventually, in the 31st minute, the Roar’s play turned sloppy and wily veterans Robbie Fowler and Mile Sterjovksi combined to profit from a stray ball at the back.
Marquee man Fowler rushed forward, danced around Matt Smith onto his favoured left foot and laid the ball on a platter for the former Socceroo, who fired home near the penalty spot to give his side an unexpected early lead.
Perth continued to do what they did perfectly on Monday night down the M1 on the Gold Coast and frustrated a Roar side that usually has things their own way into making errors.
Glory gloveman Tando Velaphi pulled off a stunning stop to deny Smith an equaliser from a Thomas Broich corner in the shadows of half-time.
It was more of the same in the second half and nine minutes in Sterjovksi should have had another when Jamie Coyne crossed him in on the counter, but his attempt went straight down the throat of Michael Theoklitos.
But Henrique came on for Massimo Murdocca just before hour mark for his first home appearance since late August, and the Brazilian gave the restless Roar the spark they desperately needed, almost immediately after setting foot on the pitch.
His injection of pace on the left-hand side turned out to be an Ange Postecoglou masterstroke as the man they call ‘The Slippery Fish’ bamboozled Josh Mitchell on the wing and weighed in a perfect cross met by Mitch Nichols to even the ledger after 63 minutes.
Things became heated late – notably when Broich copped an elbow to the chest from Andy Todd who promptly received a yellow card for his troubles – and referee Jarred Gillett had to step in to break up a couple of minor scuffles to ensure cooler heads prevailed.
But try as they might, Brisbane could not find their usual sharpness to fashion a winner despite controlling the last half hour and will have to be satisfied with a solitary point – but the Glory on the other hand will be delighted to have taken two points home from their weeklong roadtrip to Queensland.
Brisbane Roar 1 (Nichols 63′)
Perth Glory 1 (Sterjovksi 31′)
Crowd: 11,574 at Suncorp Stadium
