The Newcastle Jets have come from a goal down to earn a 1-1 draw against Central Coast in front of a bumper crowd at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
A first Hyundai A-League goal from Jake McGing put the visitors in front just before the break and on the way to breaking a five game winless run in the F3 Derby.
However those hopes quickly evaporated after the interval when Morten Nordstrand levelled for the home side before the Mariners were reduced to 10-men just a minute later.
Newcastle searched desperately for a winner in the closing stages but man-of-the-match Paul Izzo bailed his side out of trouble on multiple occasions with some clutch saves.
The Mariners keeper had McGing to thank in the closing stages when he cleared a goal bound flick off the line, while Roy O’Donovan had a late chance to snatch all three points saved.
In the end a draw was a fair result although it does little to improve either side’s position on the standings as they join the Phoenix on six points just outside the top six.
See how the action unfolded in the Match Centre
GOALS
0-1 Central Coast Mariners: Jake McGing, 42’
A fine free-kick from Fabio Ferreira had the Jets defence in sixes and sevens, with the young defender ghosting in at the back post and heading strongly past Jack Duncan.
1-1 Newcastle Jets: Morten Nordstrand, 64’
Andrew Nabbout split the Mariners central defence with a long pass for the Danish striker who charged onto the ball before sliding it through the legs of the onrushing Izzo to level the score.
OPTA DATA
- McGing’s opener was the first goal the Mariners have scored in the first-half this season and the first not to come from a right boot.
- The result was the 15th time in 39 meetings the sides have shared the points, while the draw extends the Jets unbeaten run in this fixture to six matches.
RED CARD
Mariners defender Liam Rose was given his marching orders 25 minutes from time when he picked up a second booking for a deliberate handball.
CROWD
11,238 @ McDonald Jones Stadium
Re-live the match action on Twitter
@ALeague, @NewcastleJetsFC, @CCMariners, #F3Derby
