Matthew Sim scored a 92nd-minute equaliser to earn 10-man Central Coast Mariners a point in their A-League clash against the Newcastle Jets on Saturday.
The visitors were the first to threaten in the contest when Dan Heffernan guided a headed effort from a free kick at goal, only to see his attempt saved by Mark Birighitti.
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The Mariners were reduced to 10 men in the 24th minute as Jake McGing went in heavily on Leonardo, and the referee had no hesitation brandishing the red card.
Newcastle tried to press forward and make their numerical advantage count before the break, but they were unable to produce a quality delivery into the final third to trouble Central Coast.
In the second half, Nick Fitzgerald almost found a breakthrough for the visitors as he latched on to a cross into the box, but he guided his header past the post.
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The Jets took the lead in the 83rd minute when David Carney raided down the flank and lifted a cross into the box. Milos Trifunovic rose highest in the penalty area over two defenders to power his effort into the net.
However, Central Coast earned a point when the Newcastle defence could only clear the ball from a free kick as far as Sim on the edge of the box, and he drilled his strike through a crowd of players to beat Birighitti.
The result leaves the Jets in fourth place in the table, while the Mariners are in eighth.
Simon Sinclair
