IT WASN’T the win Adelaide United so desperately wanted.

But Friday night’s hard-fought draw against Brisbane Roar showed there’s still a strong pulse in its season.

The Reds could easily have folded after going down a goal early in the first half at Coopers Stadium.

But Guillermo Amor’s side showed enough grit to first score an equaliser then hold on for a crucial point.

Speaking on Fox Sports, Andy Harper said Adelaide’s effort had shades of the “scratchy draw” against Newcastle in 2015 which snapped a four-game losing streak and prompted its remarkable run to the championship.

“(Last year) they got a scratchy draw to get out of jail,” Harper said on Fox Sports.

“That was the moment that they started to get players back — Galekovic and Carrusca came back — they started getting on a run, they were putting wins together instead of draws and they ended up winning the comp.

“Now it’s ridiculous to suggest that’s going to be the fate again this season.

“But that was a really hard-fought (draw) when your confidence is down against a team about which everyone is talking.”

Something the Reds could really take confidence from was the return of Carrusca.

While the playmaker overhit a few early balls, Adelaide looked rejuvenated by his return to the starting line-up, with his trademark creativity and smarts on show throughout his time on the field. He’ll only get better with game time, too.

However, finding an equaliser after Carrusca went off was also encouraging, while the work of youngsters Jordan O’Doherty and Riley McGree was impressive.

Crucially, the Reds have a target man who would be the envy of several clubs in Sergi Guardiola.

The Spaniard stepped up for the third time in three matches to deliver a header past Michael Theo and level the scores. Ben Garrucio’s work bombing up from left back also played a crucial role, with his cross into Guardiola providing the perfect service.

From there, some desperate defending — and a few forays forward — proved enough for the Reds to clutch a much-needed point.

Speaking after the match, Amor said his team was “very good” and worked hard for the result.

“We prefer always to win but sometimes it depends — the draw is not bad,” he told Fox Sports.

It just about sums up the result — the Reds could have snatched the win but realistically, with the chances Brisbane had, they can be happy with the point.

With the likes of Sergio Cirio, Michael Marrone and Henrique among the injured players set to join Carrusca in returning to the fold in the coming weeks, things could be looking up for Adelaide.

“This could be the moment,” Harper said.

“Let’s hope that the fortunes for Adelaide United have turned on that 1-1 draw and they can start picking themselves up.

“Henrique comes back, Michael Marrone coming back into the equation … Cirio as well.

“So a lot of blue sky hopefully for Adelaide United fans.”

THE MOMENT

With plenty of chances going both ways — though Brisbane’s were more penetrating — the tension had built at Coopers Stadium.

The game desperately needed a goal to open things up and it came from a man who had been searching for his first A-League goal.

Roar recruit Brett Holman stepped up, receiving a clever short pass from Matt McKay, winding up and burying the ball — with a glancing touch off the hand of Iacopo La Rocca — into the back of Eugene Galekovic’s net.

TURNING POINT

If the goal had given Brisbane Roar a moment of relief, it seemed to spur Adelaide onto greater things.

The Reds conjured a renewed sense of enthusiasm and liveliness going forward, with the likes of O’Doherty and McGree bursting forward in spurts.

Guardiola and Isaias too started to really find their feet as the Reds made better use of their dominance of the possession count.

HERO

It’s hard to go past Guardiola.

For the third straight game the Spaniard stepped up to deliver a much-needed goal for the Reds. Guardiola’s a threat on the move and in the air, while he’s also capable of both holding the ball up and creating well-timed runs.

Crucially, his connection with Garrucio’s cross into the box was perfect.

TALKING POINT

The return of Carrusca and James Holland added an extra level to Adelaide’s midfield, with the load having largely been shouldered by Isaias in recent weeks. Carrusca’s presence gave Thomas Kristensen something to think about, while Holland’s presence in the centre of the park helped give the Reds more freedom to use their pace out wide. With several key players still to return from injury, Adelaide’s performance showed it should have the weapons to match it with plenty of finals contenders as the year goes on.

