After a historic FFA Cup win on Wednesday, an under-strength Melbourne City played out a 1-1 draw against Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park last night.

A heated midweek exchange between City manager John van’t Schip and Roar manager John Aloisi set the tone for Saturday night’s Round 9 clash, and the fiery lead up was evident from the first whistle.

In a match full of spite which saw van’t Schip and Aloisi nearly come to blows, the 1-1 draw seemed a fitting result.

Brisbane Roar opened the scoring in the 38th minute through Jamie Maclaren.

Thomas Broich missed his initial target in Thomas Oar, but a poor clearance from Melbourne City defender Emmanuel Muscat fell directly at the feet of Maclaren, who made no mistake and guided the ball into the bottom right corner.

After trailing 1-0 at halftime, City equalised in the 53rd minute via a Nicolas Colazo strike, but not without massive controversy.

City captain Bruno Fornaroli clashed with Jade North, before the Roar defender collapsed to the ground appealing for a foul, but referee Shaun Evans waved play on.

While replays showed North almost certainly dived, City players took full advantage as Fernando Brandan and Nick Fitzgerald combined to assist the Colazo equaliser.

After Wednesday night’s FFA Cup win, City made six changes in an attempt for fresher legs, but ultimately lacked their usual execution on goal.

An action-packed first half was dominated by Roar.

Maclaren and Oar imposed themselves, pouncing on any mistakes from the City defence, and if the pair had their kicking boots on, Roar could well have been 3-0 up inside 20 minutes.

City’s first opportunity to hit the scoresheet came in the 31st minute; Paulo Retre combined with Nick Fitzgerald and Muscat, but the defender’s eventual cross missed the outstretched leg of Fornaroli.

Anthony Caceres got on the end of a Muscat cross but his header smashed into the crossbar with no avail for City, while a follow-up Luke Brattan strike was saved by Roar ‘keeper Michael Theo.

Roar then took the lead in the 38th minute via Maclaren, who capitalised on a Muscat error.

Maclaren had a golden opportunity to make it 2-0 moments later, but a clumsy first touch gifted Bouzanis an easy save.

Roar led 1-0 at halftime.

City equalised early in the second half through Colazo’s goal, however, it was the ugly confrontation between Fornaroli and North that ignited a heated war of words between van’t Schip and Aloisi, and if it weren’t for the fourth official, who knows what could have unfolded.

The enthralling match was epitomised in the 79th minute when Fornaroli audaciously crossed the ball with a rabona, before Caceres’ volley was easily accounted for by Theo’s gloves.

In the dying stages, Brisbane’s Brandon Borrello sent in a cross that nearly resulted in an own goal from man of the match Michael Jakobsen.

After five minutes of stoppage time, harmonious groans from the home crowd followed referee Shaun Evans’ whistle for fulltime.

The 1-1 result means City remain in second place on the Hyundai A-League table while Roar stay fourth.

Melbourne City 1 (Colazo 54’)
Brisbane Roar 1 (Maclaren 38’)

Referee: Shaun Evans
Assistant Referees: George Lakrindis and Luke Brennan
Fourth Official: Jonathan Barreiro

Stadium: AAMI Park
Crowd: 8,394

Melbourne City: 20. BOUZANIS Dean (GK), 2. MUSCAT Emmanuel, 3. ROSE Joshua, 4. CHAPMAN Connor, 9. COLAZO Nicolas (17. CAHILL Tim 84’), 10. CACERES Anthony, 12. FITZGERALD Nick (11. KAMAU Bruce 73’), 18. RETRE Paul (27. BRANDAN Fernando 45’), 22. JAKOBSEN Michael, 23. FORNAROLI Bruno (C), 26. BRATTAN Luke
Substitutes: 1. SORENSEN Thomas (GK), 11. KAMAU Bruce, 17. CAHILL Tim, 27. BRANDAN Fernando, 34. GENREAU Denis

Brisbane Roar: 1. THEO Michael (GK), 3. DeVERE Luke, 5. BROWN Corey, 7. KRISTENSEN Thomas (8. PEPPER Jacob 86’), 9. MACLAREN Jamie, 11. OAR Thomas (28. BORRELLO Brandon 73’), 13. NORTH Jade, 17. McKAY Matthew (C), 19. HINGERT Jack (4. BOWLES Daniel 84’), 22. BROICH Thomas, 23. PETRATOS Dimitri
Substitutes: 21. YOUNG Jamie (GK), 4. BOWLES Daniel, 8. PEPPER Jacob, 15. ARANA Manuel, 28. BORRELLO Brandon