Adelaide United end bad run with Brisbane Roar draw

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:53 am

Adelaide United celebrate their equaliser.
Adelaide United celebrate their equaliser.
Morne de Klerk/Getty Images

Adelaide United ended a run of four straight losses with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Brisbane Roar in Friday's A-League clash at Coopers Stadium.

The Reds were forced to come from behind in the second half to level the match, giving the defending champions just their second point of the season and first since the opening round.

The Roar's run of four consecutive wins came to an end after Sergi Guardiola cancelled out Brett Holman's opener.

After a cagey opening, the Reds carved out the first real chance of the match on the quarter-hour.

Ben Garuccio teed up Guardiola, but the Spaniard's close-range strike was blocked by a lunging tackle from Luke De Vere.

Minutes later, De Vere released Brandon Borrello but his shot was batted away by Reds keeper Eugene Galekovic.

Brisbane's Tommy Oar also had two chances in quick succession, forcing saves from Galekovic.

The Reds' best chance came two minutes before the break when Isaias whipped in a free kick from the right and picked out Dylan McGowan, but the defender wasted his chance, sending his free header wide of the post.

The Roar started the strongest after the break and De Vere almost broke the deadlock on 55 minutes, but he put Dimi Petratos' free kick over the bar.

Brisbane eventually opened the scoring, courtesy of Holman.

His 20-metre effort took a slight deflection off Iacopo La Rocca which wrong-footed Galekovic and found the net.

United equalised on 78 minutes, with Guardiola scoring his third goal in as many matches.

After the visitors failed to clear a corner, Garuccio whipped in a cross to the back post where the Spanish striker was on hand to power a header past Michael Theo in the Roar goal.

Five minutes later, Brisbane were almost back in front after substitutes Thomas Broich and Joseph Katebian combined, but a last-ditch challenge from Tarek Elrich thwarted the attack.

Both sides fought tirelessly in search of a winner but it remained level after a tense final few minutes.