Defences won the day at Goodwin Park as Brisbane Roar and Central Coast Mariners played out a 0-0 draw in their Foxtel National Youth League encounter on Saturday afternoon.
Defences won the day at Goodwin Park as Brisbane Roar and Central Coast Mariners played out a 0-0 draw in their Foxtel National Youth League encounter on Saturday afternoon.
Each side maintained a tight tactical discipline which proved too difficult to break down for the attack-minded players at both ends of the pitch.
The first shot on target did not come until the midway point of the first half, when the influential Jesse Curran played in Steve Whyte, whose firm shot was palmed away by Brisbane keeper Fraser Chalmers.
Brisbane had a double chance when Samed Altundang set up Patrick Theodore, who had a shot cleared off the line by Jacob Esposito before Altundang cracked a follow up effort against the crossbar.
The Mariners hit the woodwork down the other end though a Dillon Vorster cross/shot which shaved the crossbar then followed with a header towards goal which was whisked off the line by Jaiden Walker.
The Roar’s best opportunity to break the first half deadlock came with three minutes remaining, as Theodore spread the ball to Samuel Sibatuara in space on the left, but the midfielder’s attempted chip sailed well over the bar.
Ten minutes into the second term, Theodore’s clever pass behind the defence found Altundang, but the striker’s low shot was saved by the feet of David Bradasevic.
Theodore made space for himself with some nifty footwork, then attempted to beat Bradasevic from long range, but his effort skidded just wide of the upright.
In the aftermath of a Roar corner, Shannon Brady found space in the box to fire an attempt at goal, but it was easily covered by the keeper.
Central Coast’s Pandurevic found himself through on goal late in the second half, but created a more difficult angle for himself with his second touch and could not hit the target.
Devante Clut went on a fine solo run as Mariners defenders backed away, but his shot did not match the build up and flew well over.
Brisbane Roar 0
Central Coast Mariners 0
Brisbane Roar: 1. Fraser Chalmers (gk), 2. Jaiden Walker, 3. Cameron Crestani, 4. Lachlan Jackson, 5. Sam Cronin, 6. Mitchell Hore (14. Benjamin Litfin 45), 7. Samuel Sibatuara (15. Shannon Brady 59), 9. Samed Altundag, 10. Devante Clut (c), 13. Jai Ingham (12. Jesse Daley 59), 16. Patrick Theodore
Central Coast Mariners: 1. David Bradasevic (gk), 2. Jacob Esposito, 3. Joshua Forbes (4. Adrian Vlastelica 55), 5. Liam Odell, 6. Jesse Curran, 7. Dillon Vorster, 8. Nathan Verity, 9. Patrick Dixon (c), 10. Dominic Ferguson (15. Lachlan Everitt 58), 14. Steve Whyte, 17. Dejan Pandurevic (16. Daniel McFarlane 63)
