Sydney FC and National Youth League frontrunners Brisbane Roar shared the spoils in a remarkable 4-4 draw in their Round 7 contest at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney.
A highly open and entertaining affair saw both teams came from behind with Brisbane doing so three times including an 88th minute equaliser.
Sydney enjoyed a bright opening creating three clear shooting chances within the opening five minutes only to spurn each of them.
The home side, however, did not have to pay for their early profligacy as Blake Powell scored the opening after firing low and hard through Matt Action with an angled shot.
Brisbane were back on level terms with Rocco Visconte the beneficiary after good work down the left ended with a the big No.18 pushing his effort home, with the help of a deflection leaving Marko Bozic no chance.
Sydney though were not deterred and found plenty of gaps going forward with Hirofumi Moriyasu and Powell both close to restoring the lead as the first half came to a close.
The Sky Blues always looked dangerous with early delivery played in behind Brisbane’s high defensive line and it proved the visitors’ undoing five minutes after the interval. A midfield turnover saw Joe Gibbs send Mitchell Mallia through on goal who scored comfortably past the exposed Acton.
However Brisbane were soon thrown a lifeline when Tomislav Mijic bundled over Brandon Borrello under little pressure and Visconte crashed home the resultant penalty.
Incredibly the Roar went ahead a minute later as Fitzgerald clinically completed a quick passing move with a perfect finish from the edge of the penalty area.
The home side, however, were not done yet and were gifted a penalty in similar circumstances as Mallia was upended in the penalty area. Sky Blues skipper Jared Lum comfortable dispatched the penalty to draw his side level.
Just five minutes later Sydney once again took the lead with Mallia set free on goal and enjoying plenty of time to convert in a near replica of his first goal.
The action remained end-to-end with both teams enjoying several openings with the best falling the way of the visitors only for substitute Christopher Naumoff to make a miraculous goalline clearance.
Brisbane pushed hard for a share of the spoils and were duly rewarded with Tomislav Cirjak stabbing home after superb lead-up from Fitzgerald.
Sydney FC 4 (Powell 15, Mallia 50, 71, Lum 66pen)
Brisbane Roar 4 (Visconte 22, 56pen, Fitzgerald 57, Cirjak 88)
