BRISBANE Roar stretched their unbeaten run to 10 matches but had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Western Sydney Wanderers at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
In a match marred by a poor playing surface, the Roar hit the front in the 52nd minute via a powerful volley from Corey Brown.
But with a hat-trick of wins in sight, Brisbane faltered, with the Wanderers equalising in the 68th minute from a Dimas Delgado free-kick that should have been dealt with by Roar goalkeeper Michael Theo.
The Wanderers finished the match with 10 men after substitute Brendon Santalab was sent off after for what appeared to striking Roar defender Jade North in the face.
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The point from the draw moves Brisbane into second spot on the A-League ladder, but they may be passed by both Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory by the time Round 12 is completed.
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4:32The Wanderers also advanced up the ladder with the point, moving to fifth, but they too could be jumped by Perth and Newcastle by the end of the round.
The Roar made one change to the team that started in their 2-1 win over Central Coast Mariners last Sunday.
As expected, marquee man Thomas Broich was restored to the starting side, with Brandon Borrello dropping to the bench.
Wanderers coach Tony Popovic made three changes to the side that started in the 2-2 draw with Wellington Phoenix.
Santalab, Kearyn Baccus and surprisingly Nicolas Martinez were left out of the starting XI, replaced by Lachlan Scott, Bruno Pinatares and Jumpei Kusukami.
Scott had a chance to put the Wanderers ahead in the fourth minute but his shot was blocked by Roar defender Luke DeVere.
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0:50It was a rare highlight in the first half, with both sides struggling to play football on a field still recovering from the recent Coldplay concert at the venue.
Turf had been replaced, but bare patches were evident with the transition of winter grass to summer grass.
“Testing today again confirmed hardness, smoothness of ball roll, traction and bounce all within acceptable levels,” Suncorp Stadium general manager Alan Graham said in defence of the surface.
Brisbane took the lead seven minutes after half-time when Brown made the most of a pinpoint Broich cross to volley home from close range.
Dimitri Petratos had a great chance to put the Roar further ahead four minutes later but his shot from close range was blocked by Jack Clisby.
The Wanderers equalised 12 minutes later through Dimas, after his side awarded a free-kick after a Jade North foul on Santalab.
Dimas produced a curling effort that seemed to wrong foot Theo, who should have done better in his attempt to prevent the equaliser.
