Late goal secures Sydney FC a with Brisbane Roar at Allianz Stadium

Brisbane Roar had to settle for a share of the points at Allianz Stadium despite having led for most of the A-League contest.

Roar skipper Thomas Aldred (right) keeps the ball away from Sydney FC substitute Patrick Yazbek at Allianz Stadium. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Sydney FC’s ex-Roar attacker Alex Parsons scored a stoppage-time equaliser to deny Brisbane a much-needed A-League win at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

Having led for most of the contest after a first-half goal from Nikola Mileusnic, the Roar had to settle for a 1-1 draw after substitute Parsons took advantage of a fortunate deflection off Brisbane defender Scott Neville to score from close range.

It was a heart-breaking end for the visitors, who despite having snapped a three-game losing run have now gone seven matches without a win.

The draw stopped Sydney’s run of three successive wins following their recent form resurgence.

Sydney coach Steve Corica felt the Sky Blues “should’ve won”.

“We should have been a little better at forging clear cut chances, but towards the end we did well, we were putting balls in the box and making chances,” Corica said.

“We lacked the final pass in the final third a bit, but once we went behind, we changed a few things, and caused some problems for them in the end.”

Roar defender Jordan Courtney-Perkins passes the ball during his side’s 1-1 draw with Sydney FC. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Former Adelaide United forward Mileusnic gave Brisbane the lead in the 34th minute with a powerful strike that caught Sydney goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne napping at his near post.

In contrast, Redmayne’s Roar counterpart Jordan Holmes stood out, saving a 65th-minute penalty from Sky Blues winger Joe Lolley after the hosts were awarded a spot kick following a handball offence from Brisbane defender Jordan Courtney-Perkins.

Holmes almost undid his good work in the 80th minute when he fumbled a long-distance strike from Sydney substitute Patrick Yazbek.

However, Holmes recovered just in time to stop the ball rolling over the goal-line.

Courtney-Perkins also covered himself in glory late in the contest to smother a goal-bound Lolley strike.

But Brisbane’s resistance was finally broken as Sydney scored through Parsons just when it seemed the Roar were going to hold on.

Brisbane captain Tom Aldred was shattered after his side conceded the late goal.

“It’s devastating,” Aldred said.

“(Sydney scored) a really lucky goal. The lads were brilliant today and deserved it, but that’s football. We just couldn’t get over that final hurdle.

“It’s so frustrating.”

The match also marked the Roar return of former Socceroos star Robbie Kruse.

The veteran attacker entered the contest in the 83rd minute as a replacement for fellow recent signing Stefan Scepovic.

It was Kruse’s first appearance for the Roar since leaving the club in 2009, as well as his first appearance in an A-League match since March last year when came on as a substitute for Melbourne Victory in their 1-1 draw with the Central Coast Mariners in Gosford.

Originally published as Late goal secures Sydney FC a with Brisbane Roar at Allianz Stadium