Midfielder Louis Verstraete was shown a straight red card as 10-man Auckland FC played out a 1-1 draw with the in-form Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones stadium.
Searching for a fourth-straight league win for the first time since 2009, Newcastle got off to a lightning quick start; winger Eli Adams scoring a magnificent solo goal in the 12th minute.
Things could have then been even sweeter for the Jets however Auckland keeper Alex Paulsen saved a Kosta Grozos penalty in the 20th minute after Nando Pijnaker handled inside the box.
Despite creating several good chances the Jets were pegged back in the 37th minute as Auckland forward Jesse Randall got his name on the scoresheet, heading home a pinpoint delivery from captain Hiroki Sakai.
Auckland had Louis Verstraete sent off in the 75th minute of the contest after the Belgian midfielder caught Newcastle’s Charles M’Mombwa high on the leg with his studs during a coming together in midfield.
The result means Steve Corica’s side now sit six points clear of second-placed Western United at the summit after drawing for the second time in a row.
As for Newcastle, Rob Stanton’s team are now nine points outside the finals positions and will now turn their attention to Wednesday evening’s clash with Melbourne City.
Looking to land an early blow, the Jets flew forward in the 10th minute and came close to breaking the deadlock but fortunately for Auckland, Lachie Rose’s dinked effort landed on the roof of the net.
In response, Black Knights defender Pijnaker headed narrowly over from a corner at the other end but the home side had their tails up and soon took the lead in stunning fashion.
Collecting the ball inside his own half, Adams rampaged towards the Auckland box and, having out-run midfielder Felipe Gallegos, then unleashed an unstoppable left-footed strike that flew past Paulsen and into the far corner.
The young winger almost then had a second shortly after but pulled his effort wide of the target as the Jets had the league leaders on the ropes with a knockout looking imminent.
Losing sight of a delivery into the box, Pijnaker almost caught the ball as he attempted to challenge Mark Natta and the referee had no choice but to point to the spot.
Presented with the chance to make it 2-0 though, captain Grozos saw his spotkick saved by the diving Paulsen before the Black Knights then thought they’d levelled things up at the other end.
Picked out by the advancing Moreno, Jesse Randall curled a magnificent shot beyond the dive of Jets keeper Noah James from the edge of the area only to see the offside flag raised having mistimed his initial run.
Despite the visitors beginning to establish a foothold in the game Rob Stanton’s young Jets side continued to create chances at will with Callum Timmins going close to making it 2-0.
But while the Newcastle man saw his effort go begging at one end Auckland then equalised soon after at the other.
Brilliantly turning in midfield, striker Guillermo May fed the ball out to Sakai on Auckland’s right and the Black Knights skipper then showed his class, whipping an inviting left-footed cross into the box which was headed home by Randall to make it 1-1.
Not satisfied with his side’s first-half performance, Auckland boss Corica introduced both Louis Verstraete and Marlee Francois at the break but it was the home side who almost made it 2-1.
Seemingly avoiding a mishap at the back when he came to clear the ball, Paulsen was then forced into a smart save to push Lachlan Bayliss’ effort round the post.
Having come on at the break, substitute Francois looked to make an impact and forced Jets keeper James into a good save as Auckland began to ratchet up the pressure.
Paulsen then avoided a potentially awkward moment in the 65th minute as he fumbled the ball on his own goalline after appearing to misjudge the flight of a header towards goal from Adams.
Auckland’s attempts at securing victory became all the tougher in the 75th minute as substitute Verstraete received his marching orders.
Despite winning the ball in a 50/50 challenge with Charles M’Mombwa, Verstraete was initially booked for the challenge however referee Nathan Shakespear was called over to review the tackle after replays showed the Belgian caught his opposite number high on the thigh and his yellow card was then turned into a red.
Despite going down to 10, Auckland were the team asking all the questions and had the ball in the back of the net through Tommy Smith, however the defender had inadvertently used his arm to steer the ball home and the goal was chalked off.
The away side continued to push for a late winner but hearts were in mouths late in the game as Jets captain Grozos whipped a freekick narrowly over the bar with what was the final kick of the game.
The result sees Auckland now sit just six points clear of second-placed Western United after drawing back-to-back games.
Meanwhile the Jets missed out on the chance to make it four-straight victories for the first time since 2009 and they now sit ninth on the ladder and nine points outside the top six.
