North Queensland FC picked up its first A-League point in yesterday evening's entertaining 3-3 draw with Adelaide United, however it could and probably should have been the club's first ever victory. Adelaide, however, amazingly almost snatched victory in the 93rd minute through a misdirected Cristiano header in what would have been another huge blow to the new A-League side. Australian football fans can breathe a sigh of relief that the A-League strugglers have finally picked up a point, but perhaps more importantly played decent football and outplayed an opponent for long periods of a match.
North Queensland perhaps surprisingly opened the scoring in the 5th minute through a composed Robbie Fowler finish. Fowler sweetly met fellow Englishman James Robinson's cross leaving Hindmarsh Stadium stunned. The Greens' habit of surrending cheap goals continued however, as defending and goalkeeping errors let in Reds pair Lucas Pantelis and Lloyd Owusu to claim the lead for Adelaide heading into half-time.
The second half belonged to North Queensland as Adelaide looked disjointed and struggled to move forward with real purpose. Ufuk Talay and Rostyn Griffiths both hit the post before big Netherlands Antilles international Dyron Daal gave the Townsville-based club a deserved equaliser in the 84th minute. Striker Daniel McBreen gave North Queensland the lead in the 87th minute with a bullet header. Adelaide, quite frankly, did not look like making a comeback until Daal bizarrely handled the ball in the Adelaide box in injury time. Pantelis obligingly scored from the spot, no doubt shattering the dreams of North Queensland fans for a first A-League win.
The talking point of the match has been Dyron Daal's bizarre injury time handball. Was it a foul by Reds defender Robert Cornthwaite? Was Daal pushed? What were Daal's hands doing up there in the first place? I do think Daal was fouled by Cornthwaite, but what Daal did was indeed very conspicuous and clumsy especially given his height. I feel for North Queensland and Daal. North Queensland were impressive and did not deserve to be robbed of their first A-League victory in such cruel circumstances, and Daal looked useful coming off the bench. Hopefully North Queensland can collect their first victory soon with Daal redeeming himself by being a big part of it.
In the other A-League match of the evening, defending champions Melbourne Victory continued their shocking record in Western Australia, succumbing 2-1 to an improving Perth Glory outfit.
North Queensland perhaps surprisingly opened the scoring in the 5th minute through a composed Robbie Fowler finish. Fowler sweetly met fellow Englishman James Robinson's cross leaving Hindmarsh Stadium stunned. The Greens' habit of surrending cheap goals continued however, as defending and goalkeeping errors let in Reds pair Lucas Pantelis and Lloyd Owusu to claim the lead for Adelaide heading into half-time.
The second half belonged to North Queensland as Adelaide looked disjointed and struggled to move forward with real purpose. Ufuk Talay and Rostyn Griffiths both hit the post before big Netherlands Antilles international Dyron Daal gave the Townsville-based club a deserved equaliser in the 84th minute. Striker Daniel McBreen gave North Queensland the lead in the 87th minute with a bullet header. Adelaide, quite frankly, did not look like making a comeback until Daal bizarrely handled the ball in the Adelaide box in injury time. Pantelis obligingly scored from the spot, no doubt shattering the dreams of North Queensland fans for a first A-League win.
The talking point of the match has been Dyron Daal's bizarre injury time handball. Was it a foul by Reds defender Robert Cornthwaite? Was Daal pushed? What were Daal's hands doing up there in the first place? I do think Daal was fouled by Cornthwaite, but what Daal did was indeed very conspicuous and clumsy especially given his height. I feel for North Queensland and Daal. North Queensland were impressive and did not deserve to be robbed of their first A-League victory in such cruel circumstances, and Daal looked useful coming off the bench. Hopefully North Queensland can collect their first victory soon with Daal redeeming himself by being a big part of it.
In the other A-League match of the evening, defending champions Melbourne Victory continued their shocking record in Western Australia, succumbing 2-1 to an improving Perth Glory outfit.
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