A chance to reclaim the A-League ladder lead went begging for the Brisbane Roar as they were held to a 1-1 draw with an in-form Melbourne Heart at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

The Roar looked set to secure their fifth straight win when striker Besart Berisha was felled by Simon Colosimo and referee Ryan Shepheard pointed to the spot in stoppage time.

However, the majority of the 10,998-strong crowd were left pulling out their hair – along with Roar coach Ange Postecoglou – when Mohamed Adnan’s effort was swatted away by a diving Clint Bolton.

Usually Henrique would be the man on the spot for the Roar – however the Brazilian was on the sideline beginning the start of a two-game ban for slapping Perth Glory’s Jacob Burns.

The last time the Heart played in Brisbane early in December they made all the headlines after Jonatan Germano donned a Santa hat after scoring in a 2-1 win – part of a horror run of five-straight losses for the Roar.

And the Heart would have also felt festive on Friday night after limiting the A-League defending champions to a point – much to leaders Central Coast’s relief.

Brisbane appeared to have turned their form around with four straight wins leading into the Friday night clash – but the Heart kept them honest with an impressive performance that belied their fifth placing with three rounds left.

The Roar were hoping to celebrate Postecoglou’s 200th professional game by reclaiming top spot for the first time since mid-December with another win.

Remarkably Brisbane were in sight of leapfrogging Central Coast after the Mariners’ lean run of four points from five games ensured their lead in the premiership race plummeted from 11 points to three.

And bolstered by the return of German playmaker Thomas Broich from a shoulder complaint, the Roar looked up to the task when Mitch Nichols netted in the 33rd minute.

Indeed fortune appeared on Brisbane’s side when a Simon Colosimo cross ricocheted off Broich, sitting up nicely for Nichols to put away the opening goal.

However, Nichols limped off with a groin complaint and the Heart began turning it all around.

And by the 49th minute scores were level after Curtis Good’s header off a corner following close shaves by teammates Eli Babalj and that man Germano.

It won’t get any easier for the Roar as they look to complete three matches in nine days.

They start their AFC Champions League campaign on Tuesday against FC Tokyo, before playing Adelaide at home on Sunday week.