Brisbane and Sydney settle for goalless draw at Suncorp Stadium

Patrick Kisnorbo has his goalkeeper to thank as Sydney settled for a 0-0 draw against Brisbane in his first game at the helm.

Al Hassan Toure had the ball in the net twice in the first half, but the flag went up to deny him on both ocassions. Harrison Devenish-Meares was the worthy recipient of player of the match for a number of fine saves that kept Brisbane to nil, but James McGarry will rue the golden chance that he spurned in the final minute of stoppage time.

Brisbane are six points adrift of the top six and are all but mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. While a goalless draw doesn’t provide the fairytale start to Patrick Kisnorbo’s reign, a point is not such a bad result as regards the Isuzu UTE A-League ladder – Sydney FC are seven points ahead of seventh-placed Central Coast and will hope that they can build momentum as the season draws to a close.

Al Hassan Toure was responsible for both of the sparks that flickered amidst a dull first half. On two occasions within a couple of minutes Toure was found racing in behind Brisbane’s back-line and despite cleverly finding the net both times, the linesman raised his flag and the score stayed at 0-0.

Harrison Devenish-Meares had a strong first half and stood firm as pressure built after the break – The 29 year-old dropped well to his right to turn behind a firm, low effort from Jay O’Shea.

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Justin Vidic had the first decent sight of goal with 25 minutes to play, but he sprayed his effort high and to the right.

Devenish-Meares pulled out another fine, diving save when he was tested by a curling, dipping effort from James McGarry as the match crept to a close.

In the 93rd minute, McGarry was gifted the game on a plate when Henry Hore wriggled past his man and squared it into the box, but McGarry sprayed his shot far over the bar and the match finished goalless.