Finals-chasing Central Coast have pulled off an extraordinary fightback from two goals down and a controversial red card to snatch a gutsy 2-2 A-League Men draw with Western Sydney.
Dan Hall smashed home in the 96th minute, off the back of cameos from Garang Kuol and Cy Goddard, to earn the Mariners the unlikeliest of points at CommBank Stadium.
Central Coast now sit four points outside the top six, while for Western Sydney, dropping two points late in consecutive games effectively extinguishes their finals hopes.
The Mariners were eyeing a response to their 5-0 loss to Sydney FC but Kye Rowles’ own goal in his 100th game put them behind in the 41st minute.
Tate Russell was afforded too much space on the right by Jacob Farrell and lashed an optimistic strike towards goal, where it fortuitously deflected off Farrell, then Rowles and past Birighitti.
Then, the game was turned further in Western Sydney’s favour when Lewis Miller’s 48th minute yellow card was upgraded to a red card following a VAR review.
After a loose touch, when attempting to regain control of the ball, Miller scraped his studs down Adama Traore’s shin and received a yellow card.
Following a VAR intervention, referee Ben Abraham immediately upgraded the card, to Miller’s dismay.
Six minutes later, Traore whipped a cross into a dangerous area, where Dimi Petratos nipped in behind Mark Birighitti and toepoked home.
The Mariners’ fightback started when in the 62nd minute, Steven Ugarkovic went to ground in an attempt to block Farrell’s cutback but the ball hit his arm.
Abraham immediately awarded a penalty and Beni N’Kololo coolly converted.
Montgomery turned to Kuol and Goddard in the 76th minute.
Goddard almost teed up Hall three minutes later, while Kuol nearly assisted Moresche in the 87th.
Petratos smacked a shot off the crossbar in the 94th and two minutes later, Kuol pounced on the ball, drove forward, and floated it to Goddard, who squared it for Hall to tap home an unlikely equaliser.
RE-LIVE: WESTERN SYDNEY 2-2 CENTRAL COAST, AS IT HAPPENED
By Matt Comito for KEEPUP
90+5′: GOAL! Daniel Hall levels it at the death (2-2)
“One of the fight-backs of the season, no doubt!” Exclaimed Paramount+ commentator Ben Homer, as the ten-man Mariners struck at the death through Dan Hall to come from 2-0 down and steal a point at the death from Western Sydney.
64′: PENALTY! N’Kololo brings Mariners back in it (2-1)
A Steven Ugarkovic handball in the penalty area left referee Abraham no choice but to point to the penalty spot and award the Mariners a spot kick, which Béni N’Kololo converted to halve the deficit.
54′: GOAL! Petratos makes it two for the Wanderers (2-0)
The Wanderers take full advantage of their one-man advantage, with Traore – involved in the Miller send-off – found Petratos with a cross into the six-yard box for the Western Sydney substitute to finish from close range.
48′: RED CARD! Miller sent of for challenge on Traore (1-0)
A challenge from Miller on Adama Traore initially earned a yellow card from referee Ben Abraham – but after brandishing a yellow to Miller, Abraham was called over to the VAR monitor to review the decision.
The foul on Traore came as Miller attempted to regain possession, getting his right leg across Traore to contend for the ball. Abraham came back onto the pitch with the red card in his hand, appearing to interpret Miller had connected with Traore’s shin with his studs to win the ball. He received a heated response from Miller and the Mariners bench in the aftermath.
46′: SECOND HALF (1-0)
Dimitri Petratos and Ramy Najjarine come on for Keijiro Ogawa and Alessandro Lopane as the Wanderers look to add a greater attacking edge in the second half. The hosts lead 1-0.
HALF-TIME: WANDERERS 1-0 MARINERS
41′: GOAL! Rowles own goal puts Wanderers ahead (1-0)
The hosts are ahead after a Tate Russell strike took two deflections off Mariners defenders on its way into the back of the net.
Russell drifted into the box on the right flank, collecting the ball in space before driving a shot toward goal on the bounce. The ball hit Jacob Farrell and deflected into the path of Rowles, who tried to clear but only helped the ball into the back of the net.
33′: CHANCE! Baccus shoots wide from range (0-0)
Keanu Baccus was offered space on the outside of the penalty area, and unleashed a driven shot from range which was always raising as it drifted over Birighitti’s crossbar.
20′: CHANCE! Ureña whips shot wrong side of post (0-0)
Lewis Miller was granted far too much space to bomb down the right flank, and the Mariners full-back took full advantage, getting into a dangerous position before picking out Marco Ureña with a cross to the near post.
Ureña attempted to sweep the ball into the bottom-right corner, but put the ball wide.
2′: Ugarkovic tests Birighitti early (0-0)
A Steven Ugarkovic shot from range calls Mark Birighitti into an early stop, as the Mariners gloveman conceded a corner instead of the opening goal.
1′: KICK-OFF (0-0)
This clash between the Wanderers and Mariners kicks off at CommBank Stadium.
