Queensland Roar passed up a golden chance to close the gap on its playoff rivals by drawing 1-1 with the New Zealand Knights at Suncorp Stadium.

In a match Roar coach Miron Bleiberg described as a 'must win', the host failed to build on Royce Brownlie's first-half headed opener, the striker's second goal of an injury-interrupted season.

Simon Yeo responded for the Knights moments before half-time to earn New Zealand its first away goal and first A-League points since round three.

Queensland deservedly opened the scoring when Alex Brosque turned defender John Tambouras on the near touchline and crossed for Brownlie, starting in place of the suspended Michael Baird, to nod past Danny Milosevic.

Milosevic had almost handed the host the advantage minutes earlier when Korean Hyuk-Su Seo's rifled free-kick dipped just in front of the 'keeper and Jonti Richter almost pounced on the fumbled rebound.

Teenager Jeremy Brockie was enjoying a lively battle with Matt McKay and was booked for a mistimed tackle midway through the first-half but not before combining with Sean Devine to create a volleying opportunity for Yeo.

Yeo, having already been denied in a one-on-one by Tom Willis on 20 minutes, made certain with his third effort a minute before the break.

In a pre-rehearsed free-kick routine, the 32-year-old former Lincoln City striker flicked a near-post header past the stranded Roar 'keeper from Ben Collett's intelligent centre.

The second-half belonged to Queensland as the host searched desperately for a winner and the chance to salvage a season which promised so much.

The Roar construed to strike the woodwork three times in the final stages.

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