Asian Champions League: Central Coast Mariners grab point at death against Shanghai Shenhua
Australian champions grab their first point in four matches against Chinese league runner-up with goal deep in injury time at home
Central Coast Mariners scored deep in injury time as they roared back to grab a 2-2 home draw with Shanghai Shenhua in the Asian Champions League on Tuesday.
The Australian champions finally got a point on the board in the group stage after four matches.
They did it in the most dramatic fashion, with Bailey Brandtman poking home in the 95th minute, the hosts having been 2-0 down.
Shenhua, who were edged out by one point by rivals Shanghai Port for the Chinese Super League title on Saturday, were well supported by almost 1,000 fans in Gosford.
The visitors were forced into a change on five minutes when Xie Pengfei was taken off on a stretcher after a collision with Brian Kaltak, who was booked.
Defender Kaltak had the best chance of the first half, rattling the Shenhua bar with a header.
But Leonid Slutsky’s away side started the second period with intent and Andre Luis struck five minutes after the break.