Brisbane Roar have failed to kill off a lacklustre Newcastle Jets outfit at Suncorp Stadium tonight.
The home side, who attracted more than 10,000 fans for just the second time this season, were utterly dominant throughout the 90 minutes but could not overcome a tardy start to eventually draw 1-1.
Newcastle took the lead in the 18th minute when Roar defender Matt Smith knocked the ball into his own net before Brazilian striker Reinaldo managed an equaliser with 13 minutes remaining.
A-League Week 10Brisbane Roar: 1 (Reinaldo 77') Newcastle Jets: 1 (Matt Smith (og) 18')
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Crowd: 10,191 Referee: Jarred Gillett Yellow cards:BR - Milan Susak 28', Matt Smith 66' NJ - Ruben Zadkovich 23', Ljubo Milicevic 35', Tarek Elrich 55', Kasey Wehrman 61'
The Roar were all over the Jets for much of the first half but somehow managed to find themselves behind at half-time despite at one stage having eight shots to none but remarkably being a goal down.
Newcastle had Matt Smith to thank for their GOAL when in the 18th minute the Brisbane defender attempted to chop off a Jeremy Brockie cross but managed to guide the ball into the back of his own net much to the dismay of goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos.
Jets keeper Ben Kennedy was continuing his solid season by making a number of vital saves under extreme pressure from the Roar attackers but fortunately for the visitors, he was on his game and producing the goods in the opening stanza.
As the first-half whistle was blown, the Roar found themselves behind for the first time this season heading into the break.
Early in the second half, Kennedy was called on again when German midfielder Thomas Broich forced him to make a top-shelf save with a well-struck shot from outside the area. It was another case of Kennedy keeping his side in the game and if it wasn't for him, they may not have been a goal up.
Brisbane's inefficiency in front of goal was beginning to be their downfall as they continued to dominate the match but were unable to get a leveller as frustrations began to show.
GOAL Finally, Ange Postceoglou's side got the goal they deserved when Reinaldo grabbed his third goal in three games with an emphatic header from a Broich corner in the 77th minute to make it 1-1 and allowing the Roar to push for a winner.
Despite their supremacy, the home side could not manage a winning goal and were consigned to just one point which moves them to within five of league leaders Adelaide United in second whilst the Jets remained second bottom, four points clear of Sydney FC.
Starting Line-Ups
BR Michael Theoklitos (gk), Matt Smith, Luke DeVere, Shane Stefanutto, Erik Paartalu (Visconte 75'), Kosta Barbarouses, Reinaldo, Matt McKay, Mitch Nichols (Murdocca 58'), Thomas Broich, Milan Susak (Franjic 68')
Subs - Andrew Redmayne (gk), Ivan Franjic (68'), Massimo Murdocca (58'), Rocky Visconte (75')
NJ Ben Kennedy (gk), Taylor Regan, Adam D'Apuzzo, Ljubo Milicevic, Kasey Wehrman, Ruben Zadkovich, Tarek Elrich, Labinot Haliti (Abbas 62'), Sean Rooney (Shuo 72'), Jeremy Brockie (Fiorentini 83'), Marko Jesic
Subs - Matthew Nash (gk), Zhang Shuo (72'), Marcello Fiorentini (83'), Ali Abbas (62')
