ROAR 1 VICTORY 1
Out of reach: Brisbane Roar goalkeeper Michael Theo tries to prevent Leigh Broxham's opening goal at Suncorp Stadium. Photo: Getty Images
Brisbane Roar continued to thwart Melbourne Victory and their former coach Ange Postecoglou with a 1-1 draw in an enthralling A-League encounter at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
While the defending champions were far more welcoming of their old mentor than in round two, Postecoglou endured a frustrating second return to Brisbane as the Victory failed to end a seven-match winless run against the Roar.
Diminutive midfielder Leigh Broxham scored the first headed goal of his career, and the visitors could well have led 3-0 at half-time, but the home side finished the stronger on a patchy surface.
The draw left third-placed Melbourne five points behind second-placed Central Coast on the A-League table while Brisbane are out of the six, but just one point from fifth.
Melbourne had lost in their past four visits to Brisbane, including the 5-0 rout in round two when anti-Postecoglou signs and chants were the order of the day.
Despite an enterprising opening 25 minutes by the home side, Melbourne looked in control and set for the three points at 1-0 approaching the hour mark.
But a superb pass by classy midfielder Luke Brattan put Ivan Franjic in the clear down the right sideline and the winger finished brilliantly by blazing past goalkeeper Nathan Coe.
Counterpart Michael Theo had until then kept the Roar in the match with some desperate reflex saves, stopping close-range efforts by Daniel Mullen and Archie Thompson.
Theo had no way of preventing a stunning opening goal by Broxham, against the run of play in the 11th minute.
Thompson had perfectly timed and weighted a lofted cross in the box for Broxham who leapt high onto the back of Franjic and headed over Theo.
The Roar, with captain Thomas Broich taking a far more direct approach on goal, continued to outflank Melbourne for most of the first half but the Victory's defence was up to each foray.
Meanwhile, Newcastle coach Gary van Egmond is desperately hoping what doesn't kill his side makes it stronger after suffering another heartbreaking loss in its A-League finals tilt.
The Jets levelled just before the break but watched another match slip though their fingers when Perth's Michael Thwaite found the winner deep in injury time to seal the 2-1 victory at Hunter Stadium on Friday.
After dominating most of the match and making sure Glory keeper Danny Vukovic was the busiest man on the pitch with a glut of chances, the Jets walked away empty-handed. Perth, however, kept their finals hopes alive by climbing to seventh.
But while happy to take the three points, even Glory coach Alistair Edwards admitted his side didn't deserve to win.
It was the second consecutive loss for the Jets who wanted desperately to rebound from their 5-0 thrashing by Melbourne Victory last week, and leaves their play-off chances hanging by a thread with only two games remaining.
They may still be sitting in sixth place, but have a congested bottom half of the ladder breathing down their neck and have played an extra game. With matches against fourth-placed Adelaide away before hosting leaders Western Sydney, the Glory clash was their best chance of securing three points.
AAP, AP
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