Sydney FC hopes fade with 1-1 draw

SYDNEY FC is slowly fading away in the race for the premier’s plate after being forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with lastplaced Central Coast.

A clutch second-half penalty from Adam Le Fondre saved the Sky Blues after Aiden O’Neill’s composed first-half strike.

The result leaves a stuttering Sydney FC in third spot, 10 points behind ladder leader Perth with just eight games remaining in the season.

A healthy crowd of 12,188 filled Leichhardt Oval for the first A-League fixture at the venue, but they were left wanting plenty from their temporary tenants. The numbers showed it was a one-way show.

The Sky Blues enjoyed 62 per cent possession, 63 per cent territory, quadrupled the Mariners’ five shots on goal, and played 51 balls in the box compared to 14. But in the end they were forced to settle for a share of the points.

Mariners coach Mike Mulvey made four changes to his side in another desperate attempt to salvage some pride from their season.

And the early signs weren’t positive, with Brandon O’Neill and Milos Ninkovic both having sights on goal, including one that clattered the woodwork. However the visitors were rewarded for their resolve when O’Neill speared home from outside the box just before halftime.

All indications pointed to a Sky Blues comeback in the second but they let themselves down with poor crossing. Le Fondre was given a gift in the middle of the box but sprayed his shot wide. An opportunity presented itself when Alex Brosque was brought down in the box by Jem Karacan, and Le Fondre made no mistake from the spot. However the Mariners held on to claim just their seventh point of the season, keeping alive their hopes of avoiding a last-place finish.