Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Anthony Napoli/Brisbane City FC

A ten man Brisbane City secured their first point of the campaign after holding Brisbane Roar Youth to a 1-1 draw at Corporate Travel Management Stadium on Friday night.

Mat Biggins opened the scoring for City inside the opening quarter hour before Young Roar’s Nicholas D’Agostino levelled terms prior to the interval.

An open start to the contest saw City’s Nick Buckley and Young Roar’s Patrick Theodore both send shots wide of the target inside the opening ten minutes.

On 12 minutes Biggins burst forward on the counter-attack for the hosts. His run was picked out by Jae Joo Young’s pass, allowing the City skipper to head his shot past the advancing goalkeeper.

Theodore and Benjamin Litfin chanced their arm from free-kicks shortly after without success as Roar struggled to fashion a clear-cut chance on goal against a stubborn City defence.

Buckley twice struck wide of the target on the half hour before Young Roar’s Austin Ludwick sent his attempt fizzing past the post ten minutes later.

Striker D’Agostino pounced minutes before half-time, turning in Theodore’s cutback with a smart first-time finish to level scores.

Young Roar dominated possession and field position for large portions of the second half but found little joy against a determined defensive effort from the hosts - D’Agostino sending his shot wide on the hour mark.

A purple patch for the hosts midway through the half saw defender Kai Smith’s headed effort tipped over the crossbar.

The match look set to peter out before City fullback Luca Janesse was dismissed for a second yellow card with seven minutes remaining.

The extra man advantage saw Young Roar fashion a pair of late chances - substitute Jesse Daley blazing over the top from the edge of the area before City goalkeeper Matt Stein parried away a late shot at the near post.

The drawn result sees both sides awaiting their first win of the 2015 season.

Speaking after the match, City coach Glen Volker said his side continues to progress in the early part of the campaign.

“I’m absolutely thrilled with the way my lads have turned around their attitude and intensity and their desire to work their backsides off for what they can get out of the game,” Volker said.

“We’re not expecting to be playing our best football at this part of the season, we know that we have a lot of quality out there and it will improve if he work it the right way, but at the moment we have to make up for that with guts and determination,” he concluded.

Brisbane City FC  1 (Mat BIGGINS 12')
Brisbane Roar FC Youth  1 (Nicholas D'AGOSTINO 43')