.gif "Sack Attack: An A-League Webcomic")
It was Sydney FC without its captain Alessandro Del Piero but also Brisbane Roar without two of its best defenders in Ivan Franjic and Jade North.
 |
Despite the Albanian’s protests, the referee was spot on with his decision. However, Sydney FC didn’t seem like they knew how to take advantage of the situation and Brisbane Roar it could be argued had the better of the chances to score.
Such is the difference in quality between Brisbane Roar and the rest of the field in the A-League. Sydney FC may be a finals team but they are a long way behind the class of Brisbane.
As early as the 1st minute Ryall blocked the ball from a Brisbane Roar clearance and goalkeeper Michael Theo had to turn it over for a corner. The reply from the visitors shortly afterwards was from Bersart Berisha who squared the ball across the face of goal.
Brisbane Roar took the lead when a delightful cross from the left by Thomas Broich found Berisha in the box, who managed to free himself from his markers and head the ball over the goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic.
The Sky Blues evened the ledger when a perfectly weighted corner by Nikola Petkovic found Ryall who somehow was left unmarked and he duly punished Brisbane Roar by sending his header into the back of the net.
The game exploded late in the first half when Berisha came over the top with a two-footed challenge on Ryall who reacted. Referee Peter O’Leary showed two cards: a red for Berisha and a yellow for Ryall and, despite Berisha’s protests, the New Zealand referee was absolutely correct with his decision.
Brisbane Roar’s captain Mike Smith was called into action early in the second half when he wonderfully intercepted the ball from Ryall close to goal.
Ali Abbas was just off target with his shot and Brisbane Roar replied almost immediately through Liam Miller who charged into the box, beat Ognenovski and fired just over the crossbar.
A nice cross from Abbas found Joel Chianese who stopped the ball with his chest and then shot just wide of the intended target.
Late in the piece the game ebbed and flowed with both sides trying to get a win but the best of the late chances fell to Henrique who forced a spectacular save from Janjetovic.
Roar coach Mike Mulvey said afterwards that he was extremely disappointed that his side didn’t come away with all three points and he said that his side took the game to Sydney FC.
“You wouldn’t have thought that we were the team with ten men,” he said.
His counterpart Frank Farina, always honest in his appraisal, said that his side turned over too much possession in their own half and that his side didn’t take advantage of the ten men.
“We were our own worst enemies,” he stated after the game.
“We have the next two games away, Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory, and that will be tough.”
SYDNEY FC: Janjetovic, Petkovic, Ryall (60’ Calver), Jurman, Ognenovski, Gligor, Antonis, Abbas, Garcia (81’ Naumoff), Gameiro (66’ Chianese), Urosevski
BRISBANE ROAR: Theo, Hingert, Smith, Stefanutto (81’ Ferreira), Brown, McKay, Brattan, Miller (77’ Lustica), Broich, Petratos (77’ Henrique), Berisha