Marc Fox, Sportal

Osvaldo Carro and Simon Colosimo fight for the ball

A-League © A-League

Queensland Roar and Perth Glory have played out an entertaining goalless draw in front of 13,685 fans in their Hyundai A-League clash at Suncorp Stadium.

Michael Baird and Billy Celeski wasted the game's best chances late in the second-half in a match played at a frenetic pace with an amazing total of 46 shots between the two attack-minded sides.

Perth goalkeeper Jason Petkovic made a host of outstanding saves to deny the home side although Perth had its chances to capitalise on the Roar's constant forward movement. However, the stalemate leaves both teams out of the top four with ten rounds completed.

"I feel like the most unluckiest coach of the most unluckiest team in the world," Queensland coach Miron Bleiberg said. "I give full credit to the boys. They played well and tried their hearts out and it just doesn’t come."

"It's a great point," Glory boss Steve McMahon beamed after the match. "When you work as hard as that, you deserve it and I couldn’t have asked for any more out of the players today."

Bleiberg opted for Spase Dilevski in place of Swiss import Remo Buess and left Jonti Richter on the bench after his recovery from chicken pox. Meanwhile, McMahon handed Henry Fa'Arodo his second start of the season at the expense of Adrian Caceres.

Despite the hosts' early pressure, Damian Mori had the first opportunity after being played through by Fa'Arodo but screwed his shot high and wide. At the other end, Baird turned the ball through to Alex Brosque who drove a low shot at Petkovic.

Brosque then dropped deep to receive the ball, turned the Perth defence inside out before firing in a powerful right-footed effort Petkovic handled comfortably.

After 14 minutes, Socceroo train-on squad member Simon Colosimo, showing no ill effects from a crunching Baird tackle moments before, marched through from midfield before blasting a speculative effort well over Tom Willis' goal.

The Roar continued to dominate possession without carving out clear-cut goal-scoring chances. As the midfield battle intensified, skipper Chad Gibson, then Glory vice-captain Colosimo were handed yellow cards for crude challenges by referee Simon Przydacz. Bobby Despotovski followed them into the book soon after following a clumsy charge on Seo Hyuk-Su.

With 29 minutes on the clock, Brosque and Baird combined neatly before Brosque dragged the resulting shot wide. The former Marconi striker then returned the favour for his strike partner but Baird could do no better from Brosque's floated cross.

With Mori lively upfront, Perth was always a threat on the counter attack. First the striker struck a low drive into Willis' body. Then, when Mori played Naum Sekulovski clean through behind Dilevski, towering defender Josh McCloughan saved the day with a last ditch sliding tackle.

The best chance of the first-half though arrived for Queensland in injury time. Baird received a smart pass from Seo, turned and laid the ball behind Matt Horsley into Brosque's path but through one-on-one with the 'keeper, his shot was beaten away by Petkovic's left foot.

Clearly stung by strong words at half-time, the Roar blasted out after the interval. Within seconds, Petkovic had to save at the feet of Baird, then the blonde striker's goal-bound shot was blocked by Horsley with Matt McKay smashing the follow-up into the side netting.

But Perth made sure Queensland's defence couldn't rest easy thanks to a swift break just three minutes later. When the loose ball broke for Despotovski, the five-goal striker dragged an angled shot wide of the diving Willis that rolled inches past the upright.

With winger Jonti Richter on for Massimo Murdocca, Dilevski switched to the left making an instant impression. The 20-year-old passed square inside to Osvaldo Carro whose stinging drive rattled Perth's crossbar from 25 metres.

The action continued to fluctuate end to end. Mori won his side a free-kick off Josh McCloughan on the edge of the Roar penalty area and ace set-piece expert Despotovski curled his delivery around the wall with Willis watching motionless as the effort grazed the outside of his left-hand post.

Baird, Richter, Brosque and substitute Warren Moon then peppered the Perth goal with further efforts as Queensland momentum began to build. In the final moments, when it seemed easier to score, Baird scuffed a golden opportunity in the six-yard box with the goal at his mercy.

For the visitors, Celeski - on as a 62nd minute substitute - wasted a similarly gilt-edged opportunity with two minutes remaining. Great work from Mori on the left robbed Gibson, but Celeski skied Mori's centre over the bar.

Both sides face tough road trips in round 11 with Queensland travelling to Melbourne to play the Victory and Perth taking on league leaders Adelaide at Hindmarsh.

Queensland Roar 0
Perth Glory 0