An dramatic 89th minute equaliser has seen Central Coast Mariners and Auckland share the points in wet weather at Go Media Stadium.
Auckland took the lead twice through Jesse Randall and Sam Cosgrove, but Oli Lavale scored goals late in both halves to ensure the ledger would stay square.
Auckland will view the draw as two points lost after dominating most of the play and spurning several chances across the match, compounded by the fact that Lavale’s goals were Central Coast’s only two shots on target for the match.
It’s the third time in four matches that Auckland have dropped points after conceding in the last 20 minutes of the game, including last week’s loss to Melbourne City and a draw with Macarthur earlier this month.
Auckland looked like they’d set the tone for the day when Randall opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a quality finish after being plated up by Guillermo May for his fifth of the season.
Auckland had many chances to score, including a moment a four-on-one where May elected to shoot at Andrew Redmayne, and they came home to roost in the 44th minute when Lavale made some space for himself and cracked a shot past Michael Woud.
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Order looked to have been restored when Cosgrove rose at the back post to nod home a quality Francis de Vries ball in the 58th minute, and Auckland pressed and probed for a third largely via Randall, May and Lachie Brook.
Lavale made the Black Knights pay for their profligacy in the 89th minute however, pouncing on Woud error from the second phase of a corner to force the equaliser in from point blank range.
Auckland will rue the missed chances but may point to a moment in the 21st minute when a potential handball in CCM’s area was not awarded as a penalty.
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The draw continues a fallow run for Auckland, who have recorded just one win in their last five starts.
The Kiwi outfit retain their position atop the Isuze UTE A-League ladder however, although Sydney FC can join them level on points if they win the Big Blue against Melbourne Victory on Monday.
Auckland will have to regroup for a long road trip to Perth on Saturday night, while CCM will hope to take their momentum into a clash with Melbourne Victory next Sunday afternoon.
