Auckland FC have absorbed a spirited display from Brisbane to maintain their unbeaten start to the A-League Men season, playing out a 1-1 draw with the Roar at Go Media Stadium.
Put into an early ascendancy by a spectacular free kick from Lachlan Brook, Steve Corica's side weren't able to build on their early momentum on Sunday and found themselves pegged back by a Roar outfit imbued with renewed purpose under new coach Michael Valkanis.
The Queenslanders eventually got a deserved equaliser on the stroke of halftime through Justin Vidic, but neither belligerent could find a winner in the second stanza.
Although still yet to taste defeat this season, a second draw of the campaign prevented Auckland from reclaiming top spot on the table, claimed by Sydney FC on Saturday, while the Roar maintained their grip on fifth.
Brisbane started with intent but nonetheless found themselves behind in the 18th minute thanks to Brook.
Stepping up to take a free kick he'd won, the 24-year-old thundered a left-footed strike towards the top corner, and while Dean Bouzanis got a hand on it, he couldn't keep it out.
Undeterred, the Roar resumed a direct assault on an Auckland backline missing injured captain Hiroki Sakai and suspended centre back Dan Hall.
Michael Ruhs smashed a shot off the crossbar in the 33rd minute, and Kiwi international James McGarry and teenager Lucas Herrington both forced saves from Michael Woud.
The visitors eventually got their breakthrough in first-half added time when Ruhs sliced a ball through for Vidic, who slid home to make it 1-1 heading into the break.
In humid conditions, the contest became scrappier in the second half but it was the home side who finished stronger – Francis De Vries almost stealing it late when he smashed a free kick off the bar in the 92nd minute.
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