Brisbane debutant Niall Thom’s VAR-assisted 77th minute goal has seen the Roar split the points with Western Sydney Wanderers in a 2-2 draw at Suncorp Stadium despite a pulsating finish with chances aplenty.
Thom’s goal was initially ruled offside by the on field linesman, but referee Sam Kelly overruled the decision after a lengthy VAR review.
19-year-old Thom joined teammate Georgios Vrakas on the scoresheet, with their goals bookending a sharp headed finish from Brandon Borrello and a thunderous strike from Bozhidar Kraev.
Despite the Roar’s injury depleted front three – both Chris Long and Nicholas D’Agostino were injured in their last match — Vrakas opened the scoring inside five minutes.
The Greek attacker started the play himself, setting Sam Klein free on the right hand side and haring into the penalty area.
Klein’s ball across the face of the Wanderers goal forced makeshift centre back Josh Brillante into an attempted clearance, which went straight back to Vrakas who instinctively clipped it past Wanderers goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas.
Ruhs then very nearly doubled Brisbane’s advantage two minutes later, cracking a thunderbolt from distance onto the crossbar that replays showed Thomas had gotten a finger to.
Bouzanis’s injury in the ninth minute was a hint that the Roar’s early fortune was turning though, with the keeper appearing to hurt his calf while repositioning in his box inside the 10th minute.
The 35-year-old made it through the rest of the half before being removed for Freke, but was clearly hampered by the injury.
The Wanderers took the opportunity to seize control of the game as the Roar’s momentum flagged, commanding 78% of the ball in the first half.
That weight of dominance showed first in the 35th minute through Brandon Borello’s second goal in three games.
Jarrod Carluccio first popped a cross a bit too deep beyond the back post, but fortunately for the Wanderers Ryan Fraser was there to intelligently steer the ball back to the middle of the area for Borello to cushion a headed finish.
Kraev then gave Western Sydney the lead they deserved in the fourth minute of first half stoppage time, charging on to a layoff from Angus Thurgate 26 metres out and thundering it first time past Bouzanis who wouldn’t have saved it even if fully fit.
Kraev was involved again early in the second half, forcing Freke into a quality save at his near post in the 56th minute.
It was the introduction of Thom and Quinn Macnicol that ended up changing the game for the Roar after the two combined for the equaliser just after 70 minutes.
The 19-year-old Thom beat Jacob Farrell for strength in the Wanderers box, forcing the ball into Macnicol’s path out on the left.
The 18-year-old put the ball back into a central spot for Thom to push it past Thomas for a goal that was initially ruled out for offside.
After a four minute intervention by VAR, referee Sam Kelly overruled the original decision and awarded Thom a goal on his Isuzu UTE A-League debut.
Both sides had chances in the last 15 minutes, with Vrakas and Klein having attempts for the Roar before Jai Rose blasted a close range chance over the bar just before stoppage time.
Rose also had a spectacular chance to win the game in the 94th minute, pulling off a brilliant bicycle kick that cannoned off the crossbar.
The result moves the Wanderers off the bottom of the table, although they’re only clear of Wellington on goal difference.
Brisbane on the other hand missed a chance to really push themselves back into finals contention and create some separation from Melbourne City below them in ninth.
As it stands, Brisbane are just two points behind Central Coast Mariners in sixth although having played two extra games.
The Roar host Wellington at home next Saturday afternoon, while the Wanderers are set for a visit from Adelaide United on Friday night.
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Bart Vriends pounded an effort over the bar, Ryan White couldn’t quite get a shot away from another brilliant Muniz pass, and Ethan Alagich blazed an effort wide from the left side of the box.
ALEX TOBIN MEDAL VOTES:
3. Ryan Fraser
2. Dimitri Valkanis
1. Bozhidar Kraev
