Brisbane Roar wasted a chance to join Adelaide United on top of the A-League ladder by missing several hot chances in their 1-1 draw against Sydney FC.
After failing behind to an early Luke De Vere goal, the Sky Blues re-grouped and showed tremendous fighting spirit to equalise through Alex Brosque before the break to earn themselves a hard-earned point.
But the Roar, who have never won against Sydney at the SFS in eight previous meetings, will feel the most aggrieved with the result after wasting a number of opportunities to secure victory.
Midfielder Massimo Murdocca missed two glorious chances in the first half while skipper Matt McKay somehow blasted over the bar from just five metres out with only three minutes left.
It was the Roar that made the better start and they got an early reward through De Vere inside seven minutes.
The Roar central defender used all his strength to outjump both Mark Bridge and goalkeeper Ivan Necevski to the ball and plant his header home from just three metres out from Thomas Broich's deflected corner kick.
While De Vere was the hero at one end it was his error that allowed Sydney an equaliser 11 minutes before the break.
After Bridge had flicked on Necevski's long ball forward, De Vere attempted to head the ball back to his own keeper but didn't get enough on it with Alex Brosque on the spot to poke the ball past Michael Theoklitos.
The goal took Brosque to equal third on the all-time A-League scorers list alongside former Victory striker Danny Allsopp with 36 goals, behind only Archie Thompson (49) and Shane Smeltz (42).
Sydney have another home match next weekend against the Newcastle Jets, while the Roar travel to Wellington to play the Phoenix on Wednesday night.
Sydney FC 1 (Brosque 34)
Brisbane Roar 1 (De Vere 7)
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