Words: Terry Parle
Image: Ray Gardner/Redlands United

Redlands United and Brisbane City left their NPL Queensland Finals hopes in limbo on Friday night after the sides played out a 2-2 draw at Cleveland Showgrounds.

The hosts took a two goal advantage into half-time courtesy of Jayden Prasad and Elliot Ronto before a second half brace from City’s Nathan Bird saw the sides split the points.

City’s Daniel Sharov spurned the first genuine opportunity of the contest on 12 minutes, poking his shot wide of the post from Bird’s cross.

Nico Bechar once again proved dangerous for Redlands, his release of Ronto setting up the opening goal on 18 minutes when the forward’s cross enabled Prasad to head home for his sixth goal of the season.

City remained in the contest as skipper Matt Biggins saw his driven shot turned around the post by Redlands goalkeeper Andrew Ralph.

Bechar dribbled through the City defence on the half hour, drawing a parried save from Matt Stein in the City goal before Ronto steered his follow-up wide of the target.

Soon after City earned a penalty for a push in the box, however Ralph stood tall to deny Biggin’s from the spot then Bird with the follow-up.

The visitors were left to rue the miss only minutes later when Ronto doubled Redland’s advantage, creating space under pressure to drive his shot into the bottom corner.

A final chance fell for City before the break when Redlands failed to clear a corner, however Ralph again spared his side’s blushes with a solid save.

City returned with renewed purpose after the restart as Nick Buckley forced Ralph to save in the first attack of the half before Bird struck twice in quick time to level terms.

Bird steered home from a pair of City free-kicks, the first from the top of the box on 47 minutes before repeating the feat in similar fashion two minutes later.

The sides exchanged opportunities in the follow-up, with Redland’s Michael Lee and Ronto combining to force a save from Stein before Buckley headed over the bar from close range at the other end on the hour.

Ronto continued to threaten for the hosts, forcing Stein to again save on 70 minutes before striking the post from little more than a yard with Stein stranded.

With a draw of little benefit for either side’s finals ambitions, the match opened up in the final stage but suffered for poor finishing from both teams.

In added time, the relentless Bechar twice teed-up Ronto with last week’s two goal hero unable to deliver the winning blow.

The result sees both Redlands and City now reliant on other results if they are to qualify for the NPL Queensland Finals Series.

Redlands United 2 (Jayden PRASAD 18’, Elliott RONTO 36’)
Brisbane City 2 (Nathan BIRD 47’ 49’)