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The Central Coast Mariners have pegged back a three-goal second-half deficit to force a thrilling 3-3 draw against Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium tonight.
First-half goals captain Travis Dodd and defender Robert Cornthwaite and a 50th minute strike from Brazilian Cristiano had Adelaide cruising towards victory.
But Socceroo Mile Jedinak hit a double, including a penalty, and Matt Simon struck an 84th minute equaliser to stun the 9,074 spectators.
The draw spoilt Adelaide’s perfect home record to date this season, having netted three wins in as many games.
Adelaide now faces Uzbekistan club Bunyodkor at home next Wednesday in the first leg of their Asian Champion League semi-final match-up.
United’s points looked safe with 30 minutes remaining, but the Mariners took charge after coach Lawrie McKinna rang sweeping changes at 3-0, introducing Dylan Macallister and re-arranging his side.
Adelaide paid dearly for replacing playmaker Diego with more than 20 minutes remaining as their team shape disintegrated and Mariners netted three times in 18 minutes.
All looked roses after captain Travis Dodd netted his third goal of the season from the penalty spot in only the seventh minute and then full back Cornthwaite headed home a Paul Reid corner in the 19th minute to have United 2-0 up by half time.
Then the A-League’s top scorer Cristiano cashed in on a nod down by Sasha Ogenovski from another corner in the 50th minute to make it 3-0 from close range, his fifth this season.
But the Mariners changed tack and applied the blow torch to United with Jedinak netting his first in the 66th minute from the penalty spot after Angelo Costanzo tripped Simon.
The Mariners then smelled blood after Jedinak fired home a 20 metre drive which new Socceroo squad keeper Eugene Galekovic could only help in for 3-2.
And wily Simon beat Galekovic to a long through ball in the 84th minute and prodded home also his fifth goal of the season from a tight angle.
The draw kept both clubs on the shirt tails of top two sides Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC.
Adelaide United coach Aurelio Vidmar was understandably frustrated after watching his players squander a 3-0 lead in the second half.
“We certainly threw two points away tonight,” he said.
“It’s extremely disappointing. I can’t fault the players’ effort in the first half.
“The pressure was great, we controlled the play. But we just fell apart in the last 30 minutes.
“We just couldn’t keep up the intensity.”
Vidmar said the Central Coast know how to fight and they “just don’t know how to lie down”.
“But at 3-0 up you expect to win,” he said.
Dodd said the team were “just going to have to get over it” before taking on Bunyodkor in the Asian Champions League semi-final first leg.
“To be 3-0 up with less than a half of football to play, we should have closed it out,” he said.
McKinna said his side had conceded three goals from set pieces, but had shown “bottle” to hit back for a draw.
“We just played good, hard football in the second half,” he said.
“We made a change after going three behind (Macallister coming on) and went to three upfront.
“Tonight we were fortunate it did change things.”
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