Attenborough special at Suncorp’s den

Like David Attenborough’s Africa? Why not the A-League? Lions can be pinned down by an outmuscled gazelle, but still perform their alpha role.

The Broxham’s rare display of elegance might have stolen the show had the lion not roared home to share the points.

Brisbane were first to have sights on the Melbourne Victory goal in their Saturday night showdown, but Leigh Broxham waits for no-one to make his move.

The combative creature harnessed its explosive nature to rise and spectacularly head the visitors into an 11th minute lead from the back-post.

Brisbane pressed hard for an equaliser but chances continued to come at the other end, with Mark Milligan scuffing a shot wide and Michael Theo saving from Daniel Mullen’s point-blank flick-on.

Continuing a formulaic first-half, Theo was needed to bail out his defence again, saving from a free Archie Thompson at the far post, despite his side making much of the play.

Brisbane finally landed a blow on Victory right on the hour when Luke Brattan exploited Adama Traore’s forward foray by picking out Ivan Franjic’s run, leaving the winger to finish with aplomb through Nathan Coe’s legs.
The voyeuristic drama reached its crescendo when Ben Halloran unleashed with seconds to play, but Coe rescued his herd with a flying save to preserve a point for a vulnerable, and oddly camouflaged, Melbourne Victory.

BRISBANE: Theo (gk), Hingert, North, Donachie, Stefanutto, Brattan, Lustica, Franjic, Nijland, Broich, Berisha.
Bench: Acton (gk), Nichols, Halloran, Henrique.

MELBOURNE VICTORY: Coe (gk), Galloway, Mullen, Leijer, Traore, Milligan, Broxham, Pain, Celeski, Rojas, Thompson.
Bench: Vekaphi (gk), Dilevski, Makarounas, Nabbout.

Crowd: 12,624