Super sub, Troy Hearfield, was the hero at Bluetongue Stadium with his 91st minute equalising header enough to gain his Central Coast Mariners side a point in their 1 – 1 draw with Sydney FC in tonight’s Hyundai A-League fixture.
Hearfield finally got the goal that was always coming for the home side, after they created countless scoring opportunities in the second half. His effort was enough to cancel out the 56th minute goal from Sydney FC’s, Joel Chianese.
The Mariners were unlucky not come away with a win, the result leaving them only three points above a Brisbane Roar side breathing down their neck in the hunt for first place.
The first half was a “half of half chances” and although both sides were doing everything they could to get the better of one another, neither team could impose any real dominance over their opposition.
Thomas Rogic continued to show why he was NAB’s young footballer of February as he caused headaches for Sydney’s defence.
Sydney fired early in the second half though, with Chianese opening the scoring in the 56th minute, tapping the ball home after two decent saves from Mariners’ custodian, Matt Ryan.
After the goal, the momentum of the match shifted towards the Mariners, as they created many chances but failed to find that final scoring touch.
The equaliser finally came in the 91st minute when Troy Hearfield got on the end of a scrappy Sydney FC clearance, to easily head home. The match ended 1-1 and did neither side any favours in the Hyundai A-League standings.
Central Coast: Mathew Ryan 1 (Gk), Joshua Rose 3, Patrick Zwaanswijk 6, John Hutchinson 7, Oliver Bozanic 10, Michael Mcglinchey 12, Trent Sainsbury 16, Tomas Rogic 17, Alex Wilkinson (C) 18, John Sutton 19. Adam Kwasnik 23.
Sydney FC: Pascal Bosschaart 4, Michael Beauchamp 5, Brett Emerton 7, Karol Kisel 8, Bruno Cazarine 9, Nick Carle 10, Terry McFlynn (c) 15, Joel Chianese 16, Ivan Necevski (gk) 20, Scott Jamieson 21, Rhyan Grant 2.3
Attendance: 8,658.
Yellow Cards: Rhyan Grant 22’, Karol Kisel ‘30.
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