The A-League’s worst form teams Adelaide United and Central Coast Mariners slugged out a tense 1-1 draw at Hindmarsh Stadium Friday night, keeping Adelaide rooted at the bottom of the table.
Adelaide captain Travis Dodd netted his second goal in a week in the 43rd minute to cancel out a 39th minute penalty by Mariners’ striker Nick Mrdja.
The Mariners were looking to arrest their own horror run of seven matches without a win but found Socceroo keeper Eugene Galekovic in top form.
United coach Aurelio Vidmar recalled ex-Ghana international striker Lloyd Owusu for his first start since October 6, 12 matches ago, in place of misfiring Brazilian Cristiano.
Mariners boss Lawrie McKinna opted to retain the same 11 from the last-start draw with North Queensland Fury.
Mrdja brought the best out of Galekovic to divert his shot from close range away for a corner in the 12th minute before Owusu raised expectations with a darting header just over the crossbar.
Mariners midfielder Dean Heffernan also forced Galekovic to save close in with his leg in the 19th minute as the visitors carved out the best chances.
Cassio finally forced Mariners keeper Danny Vukovic to fend away a fierce drive from 20 metres in the 28th minute before he gave away a penalty for restraining Pedj Bojic in the 37th minute.
Mrdja finally beat Galekovic from the spot kick, high to his left, but Adelaide answered the challenge before the interval, inspired by a long run from teenage striker Matthew Leckie.
The ball was relayed to Owusu who found Dodd alone on the right and he cut in to rifle the ball low past a helpless Vukovic.
Galekovic had to excel to hold out shots from Brad Porter in the 62nd and 72nd minutes to preserve Adelaide’s point.
United have picked up just eight points in the past 11 games and not won at home since October 16, against Sydney.
McKinna said none of the 10,156 fans at the ground could accuse the teams of “not having a go.”
“After the 0-0 last time between the teams, there was a bit of criticism like that,” the Mariners coach said.
“But tonight teams were hard at it and either could have won it in the end but we’re a little disappointed because we created more clear cut chances.”
McKinna said the Mariners had closed down Adelaide and dominated the first half but Adelaide had hit back after half time and made an end-to-end contest.
“We feel we’ve turned the corner tonight,” said McKinna, whose side has just four games left to play and sit less than a win away from sixth spot.
“We’ve hung in there and there are 12 points to play for.”
Vidmar said his team had tried hard but had come up “a bit short.”
“We gave them too much space on the ball in the second half but we rectified that in the second half,” he said.
“We just lacked that little bit of difference and maybe didn’t make the right choice of shots at times.”
Vidmar refused to comment on whether he thought his job was in jeopardy after winning just once in the past 11 matches.
“If we keep drawing, the situation will become impossible,” he said about their finals chances.
Adelaide’s match with sixth-placed Perth Glory on Tuesday night at home could be the last finals straw.
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