Brisbane Roar avoid a fifth successive defeat in 4-4 draw with Macarthur FC

Brisbane Roar needed an own goal in stoppage-time from Macarthur FC‘s Tomislav Uskok on Saturday to avoid creating an unwanted piece of A-League history.

Brisbane Roar have been spared an unwanted piece of A-League history after avoiding defeat in an eight-goal thriller at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Saturday night.

Desperate not to become the first team to lose its opening five matches of an A-League season, the Roar drew 4-4 with Macarthur FC.

Staring down the barrel of another loss after twice giving up the lead, the Roar needed a stoppage-time own goal from Bulls defender Tomislav Uskok to grab a share of the points.

Brisbane seemed on its way to a much-needed win thanks to a brace from teenage striker Thomas Waddingham that gave the visitors a 2-0 lead after 29 minutes.

However, Macarthur fought back to cut the Roar’s lead in half in the 44th minute via a Kealey Adamson volley that deflected off Brisbane left-back Antonee Burke-Gilroy on its way to the back of the net.

Young gun Thomas Waddingham gives @brisbaneroar a dream start within just FIVE minutes 🙌🟠

Watch #MACvBRI live and exclusive NOW on Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/1fMyvwPJVi

— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) November 30, 2024

The Bulls’ resurgence continued six minutes into the second-half when Uskok headed him a deflected cross from Marin Jakolis.

The Roar regained the lead in the 67th minute through an own goal from Macarthur defender Dino Arslanagic, who fluffed his attempt to clear a low cross from Brisbane’s Jack Hingert.

However, the Bulls again responded, equalising 12 minutes later via a volley from substitute Danny De Silva, before going ahead in the 83rd minute when captain Valere Germain headed home a Jed Drew corner.

But Uskok’s own goal in third minute of stoppage-time when he failed to properly deal with a cross from Brisbane substitute Ben Halloran ensured the Roar didn’t go home empty-handed.

“We’re still nowhere near our best but we can definitely keep improving every week, and that’s the main thing,” Waddingham told Network 10.

“We’ll just keep focusing on ourselves and eventually (wins) will come.”

The Roar’s starting team included veteran defender Scott Neville, who made his first appearance since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in January.

Originally published as Brisbane Roar avoid a fifth successive defeat in 4-4 draw with Macarthur FC