‘Almost feels like a win’: Aldred grabs draw for Roar
Joey Lynch |
Brisbane Roar’s relentless push for a draw with Auckland FC has been rewarded as late as possible, with Tom Aldred producing a heart-stopping equaliser with the last kick of the game to secure a 1-1 draw that “almost feels like a win”.
Invigorated after opening their A-League Men campaign with a 2-1 win over Perth Glory, the Roar started Friday evening’s contest with fierce intent, which rendered Hiroki Sakai’s 11th-minute opener for Auckland all the more deflating.
It ensured 80 minutes of mounting frustration for the hosts, who survived Logan Rogerson hitting the bar soon after.
The home side threw themselves forward relentlessly in search of an equaliser, only to be denied by the woodwork, wayward finishing, or a desperately scrambling Auckland defence.
“I felt like they were blocking everything, and at some stage I felt like, OK, let it go, maybe it’s not our day,” Roar boss Michael Valkanis admitted to Paramount+.
“I was really happy with the boys pushing right to the end.”
Finally, with just one last corner to defend in the 95th minute, it appeared the Kiwi side would escape with three smash-and-grab points from just a single shot on target – only for Aldred to refuse to allow his side to lose.
His initial headed attempt from Nam Tae-Hee’s corner blocked, the Roar skipper pounced on the ball and weaved a second attempt through a mass of bodies, sending “The Den” into raptures before sprinting to the stands to join them in celebration.
“It almost feels like a win this one,” Aldred told Paramount+.
“I felt we had a positive performance – it would have been a bit of a sucker blow to come out with nothing.
“It feels good – took one on the chin, count to 10, and we get back up.”
Sabit Ngor had hit the post in the 38th minute, and Justin Vidic rattled the crossbar in the 49th as the Roar pursued an equaliser.
Virgiliu Postolachi had also been left grimacing after he had a close-range shot deflected over the bar on the half-hour.
But the home side would force Auckland keeper Michael Woud into just a single save in the 79 minutes of regular time following Sakai’s opener, the Japanese defender’s sweetly hit half-volley seemingly all the visitors needed.
At the zenith of a desperate stoppage-time flurry, though, Aldred had the final say.
“Feels a bit like a loss, considering we were 1-0 up pretty much the whole game,” crestfallen Auckland winger Lachlan Brook told Paramount+.
AAP