Western Sydney Wanderers defender Robbie Cornthwaite was at a loss to explain his side’s late capitulation in their draw with Newcastle Jets on Sunday night.
First half goals to Spanish duo Aritz Borda and Dimas Delgado had the Wanderers 2-0 up and seemingly cruising towards victory in their first home match at Spotless Stadium.
But the Jets scored twice inside the last nine minutes to snatch a 2-2 draw and keep their own unbeaten start to the Hyundai A-League season alive.
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“I thought we dominated the whole game probably except for the last 15 or 20 minutes,” Cornthwaite told Fox Sports.
“As you would expect they came back into it and threw everything they had at us.
“It’s one of those days, a couple of set pieces and that’s what kills you. It’s very disappointing from us.
“We started well, the fans came out in numbers again and the pitch is really fantastic so no excuses. Hopefully we’ll get a few wins here this season.”
Jets skipper Nigel Boogaard started the fightback, scoring with a powerful header to make it goals in consecutive games for the veteran defender.
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Winger Andrew Hoole then shocked the home side with a free-kick two minutes from time, which Wanderers keeper Andrew Redmayne allowed to sneak under his gloves and in at his near post.
“It was very good character shown by the team but I think we got away with one in the end,” an honest Hoole told Fox Sports.
“I thought we were well off the pace today and if we want to go anywhere this season we have to be better.”
The Jets have had two draws and a win to start the season to sit in fourth spot under new coach Mark Jones.
And Hoole says it’s the local flavour in the Newcastle squad which has played a part in their spirited start to the campaign.
“They [coaches Mark Jones and Clayton Zane] are both form the region, it obviously helps having them at the club,” he said.
“We have a few local players as well, myself, boogs [Boogaard], Kanta [Ben Kantarovski] so it’s nice to have a mix like that.”
Both sides are at home next Saturday, with the Jets taking on league-leaders Sydney FC, while the Wanderers do battle with Central Coast Mariners.
