10-man Roar steal draw

Queensland Roar has salvaged a 2-2 draw with Adelaide United at Suncorp Stadium despite captain Craig Moore being sent off on his Hyundai A-League debut.

Referee Ben Williams dismissed Moore for two bookable offences midway through the second-half but eight minutes later Sasa Ognenovski headed a deserved second equaliser for the 10-man Queenslanders.

The Roar central defender had hit the post with another header in the first-half and also had a direct free-kick chalked off moments after Matt McKay had blasted Queensland level from 25 yards on the stroke of half-time.

Roar coach Frank Farina said he was happy with the endeavour of his side after Moore's send-off.

"After going down to 10 men and everything that transpired throughout the game, I've got to say at the end we're happy with a point," said Farina afterwards.

"I still think we kept pushing forward even with 10 men - it just shows the character of the team."

"I thought the first-half we played some good stuff and created a number of chances. Other days they'll go in."

Australian under-23s striking duo Nathan Burns and Bruce Djite showed no signs of fatigue despite only returning from playing against Iraq in an Olympic qualifier 36 hours before kick-off with a goal apiece for Adelaide which always threatened on the break.

Former Socceroos defender Danny Tiatto was outstanding at left-back for the Roar while Paul Agostino made his league bow from the bench on the hour mark.

Farina preferred Ante Milicic to Simon Lynch in attack, but it was the twin Brazilian threat of Marcinho and Reinaldo which caught the eye over the first 45 minutes with both spurning great chances to score.

Marcinho headed wide from a McKay free-kick and an unmarked Reinaldo blasted over from six yards with the goal at his mercy after Ognenovski's header had rebounded off the upright.

By that time, Burns had already pounced after the Roar backline failed to clear its lines to give Adelaide an early lead, but it was all Queensland with Reds goalkeeper Robbie Bajic saving bravely at McKay's feet and Massimo Murdocca's cross-cum-shot crashing off the bar.

McKay, the club's player-of-the-year last season, then levelled the scores with a long range strike which took a slight deflection off Adelaide captain Michael Valkanis before Ognenovski's direct free-kick was disallowed after Milicic illegally blocked off the Adelaide wall.

The visitors were back ahead two minutes after the restart when Burns found Cassio wide on the left and Djite beat the challenge of Ognenovski before wrong-footing Roar 'keeper Liam Reddy with a diving header from the Brazilian's centre.

Reinaldo should have replied immediately but blasted wide after a pinpoint McKay through ball before Djite again shrugged off the attentions of Ognenovski with Reddy saving.

Agostino replaced Richie Alagich for his Hyundai A-League debut on 60 minutes and fired a header wide soon after his arrival.

By then Queensland had been reduced to 10 men when Moore clashed with Burns for the second time in five minutes and received his second yellow card.

But despite its numerical disadvantage, the Roar drew level for a second time when Ognenovski found acres of space in Adelaide's six-yard box to plant McKay's corner past a stranded Bajic.

Vice-captain Travis Dodd could have sealed all three points deep into injury time but failed to connect with an outswinging corner.

Reds coach Aurelio Vidmar was philosophical after the match.

"I think at