Brisbane Roar and Gold Coast United have played out a 0-0 draw in the final match of A-League week 1. In what was an encouraging effort by the Roar who were widely tipped to go down in their opening match after losing three previous encounters with their fellow Queenslanders.
Gold Coast United: 0 Brisbane Roar: 0
Venue: Skilled Park, Robina Crowd: 6,394 Referee: Peter Green Yellow cards:GCU - Adama Traore 23', Steve Pantelidis 27', Bas van den Brink 41', Kristian Rees 90' BR - Matthew Smith 82'
Gold Coast United looked sharp early but it was Brisbane who made the running with a few chances although nothing came of their forward advances.
United began to settle well as the match went on whilst the Roar became more comfortable with their game plan and they came close to scoring just on the half-hour mark when Kosta Barbarouses did not make the most of his chance, skewing his shot straight at Glen Moss who held on safely.
Roar's German recruit Thomas Broich was causing trouble through the midfield for United and overall the visitors looked dangerous but they could not make the most of their positive play and the first 45 minutes ended goalless.
The home side improved offensively in the second term and were agonisingly close to a goal in the 65th minute when Joel Porter rounded the defence but was unable to get past Michael Theoklitos who was called on a few minutes later to save a Zenon Caravella volley. The former Melbourne Victory stopper made another brilliant save from the ensuing corner as he kept his new club in the contest with some more brilliance.
Down the other end, Moss was doing his best to keep United in it but almost came undone in the 77th minute when Matt McKay unleashed from outside the area but fortunately for the home side, the blast went wide.
Both sides were in search of a winner and Roar skipper McKay was close in the 89th minute when he let fly but Moss was equal to the task with a diving save in the last real play of any consequence in a game that ended 0-0.
Starting Line-Ups
GCU Glen Moss (gk) Steve Pantelidis (Rees 32'), Michael Thwaite, Robson (Mebrahtu 73'), Dino Djulbic, Shane Smeltz, Jason Culina, Bas van den Brink, Joel Porter, Tahj Minniecon (Caravella 58'), Adam Traore
Subs - Scott Higgins (gk), Zenon Caravella (58'), Kristian Rees (32'), Golgol Mebrahtu (73')
BR Michael Theoklitos (gk), Matthew Smith, Luke DeVere, Shane Stefanutto, Ivan Franjic, Erik Paartalu, Kosta Barbarouses, Massimo Murdocca (Nichols 37'), Henrique (Brattan 78'), Matt McKay, Thomas Broich
Subs - Andrew Redmayne (gk), Mitch Nichols (37'), Luke Brattan (78'), Milan Susak
