Brisbane Roar and Western Sydney have shared the spoils after an entertaining 1-1 A-League draw at Moreton Daily Stadium.
The Wanderers held a 1-0 halftime lead as they aimed to bounce back from their 4-1 thumping by Melbourne City last week but a second-half equaliser from Japanese youngster Riku Danzaki secured a point for the hosts.
The result does however extend the seventh-placed Roar’s winless streak to eight matches.
Western Sydney stay fifth with 23 points from 15 matches.
Former Roar striker Kwame Yeboah opened the scoring in the 12th minute when he gave Roar goalkeeper Jamie Young no chance with a placed finish after some good build-up work by Keanu Baccus and Bruce Kamau.
It was a troubling start for a Roar defence without injured captain Tom Aldred or suspended Macaulay Gillesphey and the Wanderers could, and probably should, have extended their lead but Kamau and Mitchell Duke failed to convert good opportunities.
Impressive winger Joey Champness then started to influence the game, twice going close for the hosts before Yeboah appeared to put the visitors two up in the 37th minute when he ran on to a loose ball after Kamau had been fouled.
Despite referee Alex King playing an advantage, Yeboah’s emphatic finish was correctly ruled out for an offside.
The Roar came out after the break with plenty of intent, Champness using his pace to create havoc in the visitors’ defence.
The on-loan winger forced Wanderers’ keeper Daniel Margush into a smart save after a mazy run in the 46th minute and then turned provider just three minutes later when he fed Danzaki after another burst of speed.
The 20-year-old rounded Margush and fired home his fourth goal of an impressive campaign.
The Roar nearly took the lead just moments later when Champness again created space for Golgol Mebrahtu but the 30-year-old’s attempt was well smothered by Margush.
The Roar suffered a late setback when experienced defender Jack Hingert limped off after going down injured off the ball.
Brisbane will look to end their long wait for a win next Friday when they travel to Campbelltown Stadium to face in-form Macarthur while the Wanderers return home to play table-topping Central Coast at Bankwest Stadium on Tuesday.