Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Anthony Napoli/Brisbane City

Brisbane City moved to sixth on the NPL Queensland ladder on Tuesday night after playing an entertaining 0-0 draw with Harimau Muda ‘A’ at Spencer Park.

There was plenty of action but no goals for either side in the second nil-all draw between the team this season.

High pressing from Harimau Muda pair Nor Azlin and Abdunloh Pula caused several nervous moments for the hosts in the first half.

A pair of early chances went begging for the Malaysians as Badrul Hisham shot wide of the target and Md Isa failed to take advantage of a mistimed advance from City goalkeeper Matt Stein.

For the hosts, a teasing ball across the face of goal from Nick Buckley offered an early half-chance before Nathan Bird saw his shot from distance deflect wide.

Md Isa spurned the best opportunity of the night on 22 minutes, heading into the ground and over the bar from inside six yards before Azlin pounced on an errant back pass shortly after but poked his shot past the advancing Stein wide.

Young Jae Joo forced Harimau Muda goalkeeper Mohd Farhan Abu Bakar into his first save of the night nearing the half hour as City’s passing game began to find its rhythm.

Alistair Pase missed with a pair of chances as the half drew to a close, volleying wide at the back post from Cameron Tew’s cross before heading wide from near the penalty spot after being picked out by Daniel Sharov.

Harimau Muda saw a goal overturned in the final stages of the half when Selamat’s 20 yard drive took a touch from an offside Md Isa on its way into the back of the net.

City returned more composed in the second half and delivered the first chance on 53 minutes when Sharov nodded on for Pase, however his well-struck angled attempt was held by Abu Bakar.

On the hour Harimau threatened on the counter when substitute Azizan Mariappen blazed wide of the target after combining promisingly with Md Isa.

Clear cut chances were at a premium when City captain Matt Biggins delivered a piece of individual class on 74 minutes, skirting three defenders through the middle of the Harimau formation before skewing his shot wide of the target from the top of the box.

The midfielder was felled emulating the feat barely a minute later but again failed to find the target from the resulting 20 yard free-kick.

The match looked set to peter out before a frantic period of stoppage time saw both sides spurn chances to claim the points.

City substitute Daniel Clark forced Abu Bakar into a full-stretched save to commence a series of corners for the hosts that saw Stein join the City attack.

Mohammad Ghazli rounded Stein on the break but his heavy touch allowed the retreating Jordan Loy to spare his keeper’s blushes and close down the Harimau substitute.

There was late controversy as Buckley broke free of the line only to be brought down outside the area by Abu Bakar resulting in a yellow card for the Harimau goalkeeper, however the resulting free-kick was cleared to ensure the teams shared the spoils.

The result lifts City ahead of Redlands United ahead of Friday night’s blockbuster clash between the NPL Queensland Finals Series rivals at Cleveland Showgrounds.

Harimau Muda also moved ahead one place on the ladder into ninth ahead of Brisbane Roar NYL.

Brisbane City 0
Harimau Muda ‘A’ 0