Defiant Roar in rebound to draw
BRISBANE Roar has fought back from a disastrous start to secure a 2-2 A-League draw against Western Sydney Wanderers in Mudgee.
Two goals in the first 17 minutes to Spaniard Oriol Riera put the Wanderers in pole position on a fine surface in the NSW country town yesterday.
Goals to Alex Lopez and Adam Taggart in 11 minutes either side of halftime earned a third point in four games for the still winless Roar.
Both sides had chances to get maximum points.
Wanderers substitute Jaushua Sotirio came closest, hitting the post with a curling leftfoot effort in the 80th minute, following sustained pressure and a series of corners from the Sydney side.
Roar’s Jacob Pepper had a header saved by Vedran Janjetovic and at the other end Alex Baumjohann fizzed a shot just wide.
Riera and Bruce Kamau tormented the Roar team early as the Wanderers dominated play.
Riera pounced from 10m after Kamau’s shot hit the bar. Five minutes later, Kamau was fouled in the penalty area by Pepper.
Riera had his penalty tipped onto a post by Roar goalkeeper Jamie Young but he was first to the loose ball, netting with his second touch.
Young kept Brisbane in the game with saves from shots by Nick Fitzgerald and Jordan O’Doherty.
Brisbane worked its way into the game in the last 15 minutes of the half.
Lopez started the comeback, firing in a 20m rightfooter off the post in the 37th minute. Frenchman Eric Bautheac, who had an earlier attempt tipped away by Janjetovic and another shot blocked, earned a penalty two minutes into the second half.
He was pushed by Baumjohann and Taggart sent Janjetovic the wrong way with his spot kick.