KEY POINTS:
Visiting Queensland Roar did enough to join the Central Coast Mariners at the top of the A-League in battling their way to a 1-1 draw with a desperate Wellington Phoenix last night.
The visitors were happy enough with the point they took from their first visit to Westpac
Stadium but for the home side it may well have spelled the end of their fading playoff hopes.
Again it was a case of the home side giving up an early goal and then having to chase the game. This time they did that well to deservedly get back on terms much to the delight of the 9384 fans who took the season tally beyond an unthinkable 100,000.
The Queensland threat was from the start going to come from speed machine Robbie Kruse and sole striker Reinaldo.
Inside five minutes their double-act had undone the Phoenix and again left them wondering why.
Kruse went by Steven Old, slipped the ball to Massimo Murdocca who turned it on to the Brazilian who was given far too much time as he picked his spot and ran the ball along the ground and into Glen Moss' goal.
Within five minutes the home team should have scored when Stuart McLaren handled, but referee Ben Williams, with no help from his linesman - but with plenty of advice from the home team and their fans - failed to give the penalty.
Unperturbed, the Phoenix kept pressing. Vince Lia whipped a dipping volley over the bar and then, in the 26th minute, the Yellow Fever went wild.
A mistake by experienced Craig Moore allowed the ball to run loose. Shane Smeltz pounced and needed no second invitation to crash the ball over Liam Reddy and into the roof of the Roar goal for his eighth goal of the season and the lead in the golden boot race.
Encouraged, the Phoenix picked up the pace, won their share of 50-50 ball in midfield and looked useful in taking the game to the visitors who persisted in playing on the right and rarely attacking on the left.
Queensland had the lion's share of possession but only rarely threatened to turn that into goals as the three-man Phoenix defence mopped up.
The Brazilian influence was obvious in both teams with Marcinho and Reinaldo always likely for the Roar and Felipe pivotal in setting up Smeltz and Vaughan Coveny.
The home side had the best chance to break the deadlock when Smeltz sent Coveny clear but his weak left foot attempt did not test Reddy.