Missed chances cost Roar

Queensland Roar spurned a glorious opportunity to close the gap on Hyundai A-League leaders Melbourne Victory when they went down 1-0 to the New Zealand Knights in Auckland this afternoon.

An eighth minute own goal from Sasa Ognenovski was enough to give the beleaguered home side all three points in what was only their second win of the season and their first in eight games.

Despite completely dominating the second half Roar could not find the breakthrough and paid the price for a lacklustre start to the game.

Miron Bleiberg’s attacking plans were dealt a late blow yesterday morning when striker Ante Milicic was taken ill with a stomach virus. Milicic was deemed too sick to travel and Spase Dilevksi had to be roused from his slumber to make the early flight across the Tasman in his place.

The visitors looked flat from the kick off and the Knights sensed an opportunity to get amongst their opponents and apply pressure in midfield.

In the 8th minute their persistence paid off. Dustin Wells went down the right hand side and fashioned enough room to whip a cross past Josh McCloughan. Ognenovski’s near-post swipe at the ball only served to deflect it past the bemused Reddy in the Queensland goal and the Knights had the lead.

Roar were struggling for rhythm and after 24 minutes Miron Bleiberg reacted to the situation and brought on Simon Lynch in place of defender Remo Buess. Lynch’s introduction sparked an immediate improvement in Roars mobility up front and at last the visitors showed signs of waking up.

The closest Roar came to equalising before the break came via a Josh McCloughan diving header on 37 minutes. Matt McKay curled in an inviting left-wing cross and McCloughan’s effort forced keeper Mark Paston to save low to his right.

Soon after Yuning Zhang tested Paston again with a swirling 30-metre free-kick but again the Knight’s keeper saved well at the foot of his post.

In the second period it was one-way traffic as Queensland laid siege to the Knights’ goal, but the home side could have doubled their lead as early as the 55th minute when in an amazing goalmouth scramble Richter’s shot was blocked, Casey struck the bar and Liam Reddy saved at the feet of Buari.

Lynch went close for Roar before substitute Spase Dilevksi almost restored parity just after the hour mark. Reinaldo back-heeled to Dilevski on the edge of the box and the Under 23 international’s deft chip left Paston standing but rebounded back off the crossbar. Simon Lynch followed up but could not force his shot past a posse of defenders.

With the Knights content to sit back and absorb the pressure space was in short supply as Roar looked for the crucial opening.

Too often though the ball was in the air and became simple fodder for the Knights’ lofty defenders.

Roar did get behind the Knights’ rearguard on 68 minutes when Seo threaded a beautiful through ball to Reinaldo, but the Brazilian striker hesitated for too long and Paston gathered at his feet.

The same player, along with midfielder Matt McKay, had a header well saved in the closing minutes but the dogged defending of the home side paid dividends and they held on to take the points from a bitterly disappointed Roar side.

Team Line-Ups

New Zealand Knights:
12.Mark Paston (gk), 2.Darren Bazeley (Captain), 3.Greg Duruz, 4.Che Bunce, 8.Scot Gemmill, 11.Jonti Richter, 14.Malik Buari, 15.Noah Hickey, 16.Adam Casey (18.Michael White 91+’), 19.Sime Kovacevic, 27.Dustin Wells (24.Hamza Mohammed 89’). Subs not used: 20.Michael Turnbull, 26. Fernando de Moraes. Yellow Cards: Dustin Wells 40’, Jonti Richter 61’.

Queensland Roar:
20.Liam Reddy (gk), 2.Andrew Packer, 3.Remo Buess (9.Simon Lynch 24’), 5.Josh McCloughan (Captain), 6.Stuart McLaren, 7.Marcus WedauU (25.Carl Recchia 69’), 11.Reinaldo, 12.Yuning Zhang (13.Spase Dilevski 56’), 15.Matthew McKay, 16.Hyuk-Su Seo, 19.Sasa Ognenovski. Subs not used: 1.Tom Willis. Yellow Cards: Carl Recchia 75’.

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