Central Coast Mariners recovered from a second-minute deficit to earn a 1-1 draw with Western Sydney Wanderers at Spotless Stadium on Saturday night.
The hosts looked on track for their second win of the season until Robert Cornthwaite’s underhit back-pass allowed teenager Adam Berry to snatch a point for the Mariners.
Brendon Santalab earlier gave the Wanderers an ideal start when he fired Tony Popovic’s side ahead within two minutes of kick-off.
The two sides traded opportunities for a winner but both Connor Pain and Mitch Nichols failed to hit the target with clear chances.
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GOALS
1-0 Wanderers: Brendon Santalab, 2’
Brendon Santalab fired low and hard across Paul Izzo after being found with a cute Nicolas Martinez reverse pass at the end of a swift counter-attack.
1-1 Mariners: Adam Berry, 61’
Robert Cornthwaite’s underhit back-pass gave O’Donovan the chance to slide in on Redmayne, with teenager Berry on hand to tuck the loose ball into an empty net.
KEY MOMENT
Leading 1-0 and looking comfortable, Western Sydney should have doubled their advantage in the 47th minute when Mitch Nichols sidefooted Nicolas Martinez’s cutback wide of the upright.
The attacking midfielder wasted a similar chance in the first-half and was made to pay through Central Coast’s equaliser.
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