Drama in the Derby...
Central Coast and Newcastle remain winless five rounds in to the A-League season after drawing 1-1 in a controversial clash at Blue tongue Central Coast Stadium.
The Mariners scored their first goal in 54 minutes when striker John Hutchinson found the net after 12 minutes to break a five-match goal drought stretching back to last season.
Joel Griffiths equalised in the 84th minute with his maiden Jets goal to silence the 8,439-strong home crowd.
But the forward's joy turned to disbelief when he was given his second red card in three games for apparently diving in the box in injury time.
The 27-year-old had been booked earlier in the match for a foul on Mariners defender Andrew Clark.
He was the second Newcastle player to be dismissed with captain Paul Okon continuing his rocky start to the campaign with a straight red card for cutting down substitute Adam Kwasnik as he homed in on goal in the 75th minute.
The result wasn't a happy one for either team, the Mariners still anchored to the foot of the table on two points with the Jets just above them on three.
The Mariners will consider themselves unlucky, though, as only the upright prevented Kwasnik from belting a winner shortly after Griffiths was sent off.
Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic produced a stunning performance, making brilliant saves to deny Colombian import Milton Rodriguez, Matt Thompson, Mark Bridge and Nick Carle.
But he could not stop Griffiths, who scored with a left-foot toe-poke from a clever Rodriguez assist.
Hutchinson's opener came after Matthew Osman headed a Stewart Petrie cross at the back post into the danger zone, which Jamie McMaster nodded towards goal.
Jets goalkeeper Ben Kennedy blocked the effort but goal poacher Hutchinson buried the rebound.
Three minutes later, Vukovic pulled off a superb one-handed save from a Rodriguez strike.
The Mariners custodian followed up with a reflex save to keep out Thompson from close range in the 39th minute.
Central Coast has conceded goals in the 52nd minute of three games this season against Sydney, Perth and Melbourne - and it would have happened again had Vukovic not saved an angled shot by Newcastle striker Bridge.
A Paul O'Grady tackle on Jets midfielder Stuart Musialik sparked an all-in melee in the 21st minute.
O'Grady was booked for the challenge and Rodriguez received a yellow card for complaining about the incident.
Central Coast coach Lawrie McKinna believed his side dominated the first half.
"We played some great stuff, probably the best we've played all year," McKinna said.
"Second half, unfortunately for us, Paul Okon got sent off and we started sitting back a little bit and did not take advantage of the 10-men."
"We got one monkey off our back getting a goal, now we just need to get our first win. Hopefully that will be on Thursday over New Zealand."
Despite breaking the goal drought, McKinna said the mood inside the Mariners dressing room was sombre after failing to press home the numerical advantage.
The Mariners mentor felt sorry for Griffiths, though, saying the Jets striker received two soft yellow cards.
Newcastle coach Nick Theodorakopoulos said the incident that led to Griffiths' dismissal should have been a penalty to his side.
He added it would have been an injustice had Kwasnik managed to score in the dying stages to condemn the Jets to a loss.
"According to a journalist, it could have been my head, so I'm really disappointed a refereeing decision cost the club two points," Theodorakopoulos said.
He praised Mariners goalkeeper Vukovic's performance as superhuman.
"Two of the saves will definitely be part of the A-League highlights of the season
__________________
If you feel you are being treated unfairly on SFN please pm me  I will be as fair as possible
|
Linear Mode
