Sydney FC defy red card to Jake Girdwood-Reich and keep the Brisbane Roar to a draw

Brisbane Roar could have pushed into the men’s A-League top six, but it was Sydney FC who took that spot, holding on for a draw at home.

Referee Adam Kersey issues a red card to Jake Girdwood-Reich of Sydney FC for his challenge on The Brisbane Roar’s Nikola Mileusnic. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Sydney FC have hung on for a brave 1-1 draw with Brisbane Roar despite playing more than an hour with only 10 players on Sunday.

The Sky Blues showed few signs of their numerical disadvantage as they peppered the goals even after Jake Girdwood-Reich was shown a straight red in the 25th minute at Allianz Stadium.

Girdwood-Reich was dismissed when a yellow card was upgraded following the intervention of VAR, but it was the Sky Blues that opened the scoring after half-time through Robert Mak.

Henry Hore responded for the Roar just three minutes later but the visitors were unable to find a second goal that would have pushed them into the top six.

Keeper Andrew Redmayne made several crucial saves in the dying stages to keep the Sky Blues’ unbeaten run intact as they have now won four and drawn just as many from their past eight matches.

Redmayne was crucial to Roar hanging on. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

MAK ON ATTACK

The Sky Blues stayed on the front foot even after being reduced to 10 men but could not quite find a breakthrough until Jordan Courtney-Perkins snatched an opportunity after winning the ball back on the edge of the box.

The loose ball bounced out to Rhyan Grant on the right with time to pick out Mak near the top of the six-yard box with only Roar keeper Macklin Freke to beat.

Mak took a touch then slammed the ball into the bottom right corner for the Sky Blues’ well-deserved opener in the 64th minute.

The midfielder has now scored three goals in four A-League matches as he brushes aside the lingering effects of a groin injury that had disrupted his season.

With the return of form and fitness, Mak looms as crucial to the Sky Blues’ hopes of climbing higher in the lead up to a likely finals campaign.

Mak looms as another key player for Sydney FC leading into Finals. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

HORE HAUNTS SYDNEY

Even while holding a one-player advantage Brisbane were broadly outplayed between the break and the opener from Mak.

But the Roar then responded almost immediately with a goal to Hore that levelled the scores just three minutes later.

Hore ghosted into the box and was left unmarked as Corey Brown fired in a cross, the Brisbane midfielder taking it first time to lash in his third goal in two matches against Sydney this season.

SKY BLUE SEES RED

A scintillating start from both sides might have been dulled after Girdwood-Reich lunged to contest the ball against Nikola Mileusnic in the 23rd minute.

The 19-year-old Sky Blues defender was at full stretch as he reached towards the ball and Mileusnic, so had little control as his left boot made contact with the Roar striker.

The referee was quick to wave a yellow card but when called to review it on a replay then upgraded the card with a decision that could have gone either way.

While Sydney reined in the high press that has helped propel their mid-season surge up the ladder, playing with 10 players hardly slowed their attack.

Originally published as Sydney FC defy red card to Jake Girdwood-Reich and keep the Brisbane Roar to a draw