Brisbane Strikers stumbled unconvincingly towards a sixth place finish in the NSL, losing 1-0 to Wollongong Wolves at Perry Park tonight.
Chimaobi Nwaogazi's 10th goal of the season, scored in the 33rd minute of the first half, was the crucial moment, and all Brisbane's striving throughout came to nothing.
Andrew Crews was rock-solid all night in the Wollongong goal, and the Strikers were guilty of not finding the target with at least three gilt-edged opportunities to score in the second half.
Brisbane were without two of their first-choice defenders. Karl Dodd's busted knee and Josh McCloughan's suspension meant starts for Adam Webber and Wayne Heath alongside Stuart McLaren.
Brisbane also continued their long search for an effective striking combination. Warren Moon got the nod alongside top scorer Luke Morley this time.
And the early exchanges all favoured Brisbane. Moon was on target with a volley from an Adam Webber cross in the 4th minute, but Crews was down quickly to his left to make the save but concede the corner. In the 9th minute, Luke Morley powered in a super low shot, trying to beat Crews at his near post, but this time the keeper not only made the save, but held onto it with both hands.
In the 19th minute, Brisbane won a free kick in a promising position on the right. Warren Moon's delivery was to the perfect area, but no Striker could get his head to the ball. Then in the 22nd minute, a sweeping Strikers move culminated with a ball into the box for McKay, but Dragas arrived simultaneously with the little Brisbane midfielder and blocked his shot.
A free kick for Brisbane out on the left in the 24th minute. Dave Pilic took it, and once again Crews at full stretch tipped it over the bar.
At the other end, normally you would say Scott Higgins would have been standing there getting cold, except for the fact that it was still 30 degrees C at 7.30pm after the hottest February day in 80 years.
Referee Eddie Lennie made it a game of quarters, calling a drinks break at 22 minutes due to the oppressive conditions. Higgins was finally called into action in the 30th minute, but Jason van Blerk shot it straight at him for a comfrtable save.
But then, in the 33rd minute, disaster.
Wollongong were breaking forward quickly, and the ball came from the right to Stuart Young in a central position just inside Brisbane's half. He turned and found Stewart van Bentum powering forward into hectares of space on the left.
van Bentum's cross was great, low and into the danger zone, too far out for Higgins to intercept, and very difficult for the defenders to clear. McLaren and Nwaogazi went for it, and the Nigerian won the battle, turning it past Higgins into the net.
Brisbane continued to have more of the ball, and make chances, but Crews was looking impassable. In the 35th minute, Moon was being manhandled by Timpano, but still managed to turn and get his shot away. Crews saved it, and Moon complained to the ref that he had been held.
Towards the end of the half, both sides were running out of gas, and it seemed likely that substitutions would play a big role in the second half.
Wollongong went to the break at 1-0. Brisbane would be attacking the Torcida Banana end in the second half. Earlier in the season it was their lucky end. Would it continue to be?
But early in the second half, the Strikers couldn't make any clear chances. It wasn't until Luke Morley made way for Josh Rose in the 59th minute that Brisbane created a clear-cut chance.
In the 63rd minute, a marauding Steve Fitzsimmons got free down the right. His cross was only millimetres from Rose's head, but then it came to Peter Grierson, who cut back inside a defender to shoot. He tried to chip or curl it past Crews into the top corner, but the keeper read his intentions and made the save yet again.
Two minutes later, Josh Rose somehow battled free in a crowded penalty box to get a good shot in, but Crews turned it away for another corner.
After the second half drinks break, Royce Brownlie was introduced for Brisbane in place of Warren Moon. Brownlie almost made an immediate impact when Rose nodded a hopeful ball to the far post back across to him, but his shot was blocked.
In the 70th minute, Steve Fitzsimmons finally served the chance up to Josh Rose on a plate, with a perfect low chipped cross. Rose met the ball on the half-volley with his right foot and sent the ball kilometres over the bar. He held his head in horror. So did the Strikers fans. It was a great chance spurned.
The Strikers continued to surge forward, and it seemed the equaliser, which would be enough to guarantee Brisbane a finals berth, could come anytime.
Matt McKay sent an in-swinging ball over from a corner on the right in the 75th minute. Brownlie's header smashed against the bar, and the ball was scrambled away for another corner.
McKay sent in exactly the same ball, and this time it surprisingly cleared all heads and came waist high to Adam Webber, but he only managed to volley the ball wide off his knee, from inside the six-yard box. More heads in the hands stuff.
And that was the last clear chance Brisbane made. van Blerk and co began to play keep ball in the corners, and Wollongong ran down the clock for only their second away win of the season.
Brisbane still have their destiny in their own hands, and will need to get something from their trip across the Tasman next week. But no doubt they will also be cheering on the premiers Perth Glory in their match against Sydney United this weekend.