Central Coast Mariners frustrated Sydney FC as they recorded a 1-1 draw at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.
The Sky Blues began the game on top with Bobo’s header flashing over the Mariners’ crossbar and came within inches of opening the scoring for the hosts in the first five minutes of the encounter.
Despite Sydney’s early domination they went behind after former Sky Blue striker Blake Powell converted from the spot following Andrew Redmayne’s clear-cut foul on Kwabena Appiah-Kubi.
Andrew Hoole came close to doubling the lead for the Mariners just after the 10-minute mark when his shot from outside the box forced a save from the Sydney shot stopper.
The A-League champions lacked their usual intensity with much of their possession in the first half concentrated in the middle of the park as they shifted the ball from one side to the other trying to find an opening in the Central Coast defence.
Polish playmaker Adrian Mierzejewski orchestrated the hosts’ attacking play and placed pressure on the visitor’s defence with his distribution and movement in the attacking third.
Arnold’s men thought they had restored parity in the 45th minute after Bobo’s header flew past Ben Kennedy in goal only for the Brazilian striker to be ruled offside.
The hosts were fortunate not to enter half time 2-0 down when Lachlan Wales produced one of the misses of the season in added time as he smashed the ball over the goal from less than six yards out.
Sydney continued to threaten the Mariners’ defence in the second stanza and eventually got their breakthrough just after the hour mark as Bobo headed past Central Coast custodian Ben Kennedy to equalise for his side.
Okon’s men continued to press in the last half hour as they went in search for the match winner against the A-League champions.
The Yellow and Navy were unable to snatch all three points but their performance over the 90 minutes once again demonstrated that the league leaders can still be held out at fortress Allianz.
Sydney FC 1 (Bobo 61′)
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Powell 7′ pen.)
Allianz Stadium
Referee: Daniel Elder
Assistant Referees: Owen Goldrick and Greg Taylor
Fourth Official: Stephen Lucas
Sydney FC
1.REDMAYNE Andrew (gk), 4. WILKINSON Alexander, 5. BUIJS Jordy, 6. BRILLANTE Joshua, 7. ZULLO Michael, 9. BOBO, 10. NINKOVIC Milos, 11. MIERZEJEWSKI Adrian, 13. O’NEILL Brandon, 14. BROSQUE Alex (c), 26. WILKSHIRE Luke.
Substitutes: 30. HEWARD-BELLE Thomas (gk), 2. CALVER Aaron, 8. RETRE Paulo, 17. CARNEY David, 21. LOKOLINGOY Charles.
Central Coast Mariners
1.KENNEDY Ben (gk), 3. ROSE Josh, 4. MCGING Jake, 5. GOLEC Antony, 6. HIARIEJ Tom, 7. HOOLE Andrew, 8. POWELL Blake, 13. APPIAH-KUBI Kwabena, 15. BARO Alan (c), 22. MELLING Jacob, 24. WALES Lachlan.
Substitutes: 20. PEARCE Adam (gk), 2. ROUX Storm, 10. DE SILVA Daniel, 16. ROSE Liam, 27. SKAPETIS Peter.
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