Brisbane Roar were forced to settle for a point after an entertaining 1-1 draw against Western Sydney Wanderers at Moreton Daily Stadium on Saturday evening.
Former Roar player Kwame Yeboah found the net in the 12th minute to give the visitors a lead that lasted until the fourth minute of the second half, when Riku Danzaki equalised following a scintillating break from Joey Champness.
The outcome could easily have gone the way of the home side if not for two outstanding saves from Daniel Margush, one from the boot of Champness and one from centre-forward Golgol Mebrahtu.
With plenty of spectacular action going on around him, Danzaki’s second goal of the season was richly deserved as the Japanese star turned in another committed performance.
Champness also impressed and walked away with player of the match honours off the back of some exciting attacking play.
“That’s what we can see from Joey,” Head Coach Warren Moon after full-time. “Joey’s a talented footballer and he needs to show that more, but tonight was a really good night for him because that’s the Joey I know and that’s what Brisbane Roar wants to see.”
Moon was able to welcome back both Scott McDonald and Scott Neville, who came off the bench together in a triple substitution alongside Dylan Wenzel-Halls.
“The turning point was before [their introduction]. The boys did the job for the 15 minutes before they came on,” Moon was quick to emphasise. “The game had swung in our favour and we were on top.
“It’s great that we’ve got Scotty [McDonald] back, we’ve [also] got Scott Neville back, we’ve got options,” he added. “But now we need to find that right combination to go on and win the game.”
The Roar now turn their attention to Friday night, with the next item on the agenda being a first ever away game against new boys Macarthur FC in Sydney.
This man was absolutely electric last night ⚡️#BRIvWSW #ALeague #ForTheCrest pic.twitter.com/eByTdpkTeI
— A-League (@ALeague) April 4, 2021
GOALS
Western Sydney Wanderers – Yeboah 12’ – 0-1
Bruce Kamau and Keanu Baccus combine on the left hand side before laying the ball off for Yeboah who whips the ball home inside the far post.
Brisbane Roar – Danzaki 49’ – 1-1
Champness takes possession deep in his own half, slices forward into the Wanderers’ defensive third and sets up Danzaki for a composed finish around the keeper.
MATCH DETAILS
A-League 2021 Matchweek 15: Brisbane Roar vs Western Sydney Wanderers
Moreton Daily Stadium, Redclliffe
Saturday, 4 April
Brisbane Roar 1 (Danzaki 49’)
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Yeboah 12’)
Half-time: 1-0
