A ten-man Central Coast have held off a fast-finishing Newcastle to claim a share of the A-League points in an entertaining 1-1 local derby on Sunday.
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The Mariners looked headed for its first derby win in six games thanks to Jake McGing’s diving header in the first half before the game turned in the space of two minutes in the second half.
First Jets striker Morten Nordstrom finished off a one-on-one with Mariners goalkeeper Paul Izzo after Andrew Nabbout’s splitting through-ball from his own half in the 63rd minute.
Then Liam Rose was shown yellow soon after for a handball just outside his box.
Spurred on by the equaliser and the 11,238-strong McDonald Jones Stadium crowd, Nordstrand, Aleksandr Kokko, and Johnny Koutroumbis all drew late saves from Paul Izzo.
McGing also saved a Nick Cowburn chip off his line in the dying stages.
But the visitors did enough to hold on for a point, leaving both teams on six points on the competition table, one point behind sixth-placed Western Sydney.
After a cagey but risk-free opening by both teams, Jets midfielder Devante Clut sparked the derby with a 35-yard speculator that forced Izzo to scurry a tip wide of his post.
Chances flowed regularly thereafter, with midweek Jets recruit Iain Fyfe’s header flashing over the crossbar, and then Mariners pair Blake Powell and Roy O’Donovan spurned as well.
But it was third time lucky for the visitors, who scored their first non-right foot goal of their campaign when Fabio Ferreira’s dipping free kick was met by McGing’s diving header.
The game opened up after the break as both teams threw caution to the wind, with referee Jonathan Barreiro showing seven yellow cards, and a red for Rose.
The draw extends the Jets’ unbeaten run in derbies to six games.
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