Adelaide United and the Newcastle Jets have played out an entertaining 1-1 draw in Bathurst in a result that suits neither side's finals chances.
Adelaide United and the Newcastle Jets have played out an entertaining 1-1 draw in Bathurst in a result that suits neither side's finals chances.
Dutch-born striker Sergio van Dijk's hot form continued as he netted his sixth goal in five games in the 57th minute as United looked set to be rewarded for a dominant performance in the regional game.
But the Jets snatched a 73rd minute equaliser through substitute Jobe Wheelhouse to claim a share of the spoils.
Adelaide move into seventh but are three points adrift of sixth-placed Sydney FC, while the Jets remain ninth.
The Jets made the brighter start, and forward Jeremy Brockie had two efforts on goal inside the opening four minutes.
The Kiwi headed a corner over, before he hit a 25-yard strike straight at Adelaide goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic after a neat passing move.
Labinot Haliti was the next to test Galekovic in a lively start to the encounter, forcing the shot-stopper into a strong low save.
Adelaide worked their way into the contest and Iain Ramsay wasted a glorious chance after a quarter of an hour, rushing his volley over the bar having got on the end of a Nigel Boogaard long pass.
It was Fabian Barbiero who squandered the best of the early opportunities, lofting a shot from close range over after neat lead-up work that started on the dangerous left side.
Star striker van Dijk headed straight at Jets goalkeeper Ben Kennedy after a well-weighted cross from left-back Antony Golec.
Jets boss Gary van Egmond opted for a back three to contain Adelaide's midfield diamond, and it left Ramsay and Golec to create plenty of space down the left.
Still, the Jets had plenty of chances of their own and should have gone ahead after a bad mistake from Adelaide right-back Cameron Watson.
Haliti read Watson's back pass back intended for Galekovic, but the United goalkeeper somehow got his hand on the Jets forward's first-time strike to send his side into the break level.
Boogaard had a half-chance shortly after the interval, heading a Dario Vidosic set-piece straight at Kennedy.
John Kosmina's men looked the better side after a slow start and Kennedy was again called into action on 54 minutes.
Osama Malik over-hit a pass to Bruce Djite, and Kennedy came off his line to save the striker's attempt in their one-on-one.
Their prolonged pressure would finally earn them the opener, but it was more thanks to poor Jets defending than their own attacking play.
Djite hit a hopeful pass in the direction of Ramsay down the left, and it got through to the speedster after Ruben Zadkovich failed to deal with it.
Ramsay composed and cut-back for the run of van Dijk, who tapped in to continue his recent goalscoring form.
The Jets pushed after going behind and substitute Wheelhouse needed only 16 minutes to make an impact.
Zadkovich found space behind Golec down the right, cutting a pass across the face that Wheelhouse side-footed in.
It was the Jets who enjoyed the better of the last 20 minutes, but they failed to find a winner with Ryan Griffiths going closest as he flashed an effort wide and Michael Bridges wasting a free-kick from just outside the area.
Boogaard almost stole a late winner for Adelaide, but he headed a corner wide in what was the last play of the game.
Adelaide United 1 (Sergio van Dijk 57') Newcastle Jets 1 (Jobe Wheelhouse 73') @ Carrington Park, Bathurst