Mariners grab Auckland draw but title defence in strife
Central Coast have come from behind twice to claim a 2-2 draw with Auckland FC and blow the A-League Men premiership race open.
But it likely won't be enough to save the back-to-back reigning champions' title defence.
Auckland took the lead on Sunday through Guillermo May's header in the 10th minute before Vitor Feijao responded in the 71st for the Mariners.
Callan Elliot's cracking half-volley seven minutes later gave the home team the lead before Nicholas Duarte salvaged a point with a 90th-minute equaliser at Go Media Stadium.
MARINERS STEAL A POINT AT THE DEATH 😱🙌21-year-old Nico Duarte scores his first A-Leagues goal in the 90th minute to stun the league leaders.The Isuzu UTE A-League delivers even more late drama!#AKLvCCM pic.twitter.com/j2bbq4wZrY
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) March 16, 2025
Steve Corica's Auckland are winless in three, drawing all of those matches.
With six games left, the league newcomers sit top on 42 points, just seven clear of second-placed Western United, who play Newcastle later on Sunday.
Just two points separate United and sixth-placed Adelaide (33), but Mark Jackson's 10th-placed Mariners (22) are 11 points outside the finals places, with only five games to play, seemingly dashing their hopes of a three-peat.
Auckland regained centre-back Dan Hall after more than three months out with a broken ankle, while Mariners star Mikael Doka pulled up sore barely a minute into the match but played on.
Auckland took the lead when Neyder Moreno slipped through Jesse Randall on the left and the winger lifted an excellent cross into a dangerous area.
May ghosted in completely unmarked to drive a powerful header past the hapless Mariners defence.
The perfect start 👏 @fc_auckland lead inside 10 minutes! 🔥Guillermo May caps off a brilliant move to score his 8th goal of the season.Watch #AKLvCCM live now on Paramount+ (AU) / Sky Sport (NZ). pic.twitter.com/pmCEHgGN52
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) March 16, 2025
Alex Paulsen brilliantly denied Christian Theoharous with a superb reflex save in the 37th minute and Theoharous skimmed another just over the bar barely a minute later.
The Mariners equalised when Theoharous burst forward and worked the ball out wide for Lucas Mauragis, who lifted a cross for Feijao to head home.
For Auckland's would-be winner, Hiroki Sakai headed the ball down and back into play from a Frances de Vries free kick and he was celebrating even before a charging Elliot burst through and rifled home the half-volley.
But at the death Auckland skipper Sakai, lying flat on his back, watched on in horror when his poor clearance lifted up for Duarte to head home the equaliser.
After the international break, Auckland travel to face Brisbane on Sunday March 30, when Central Coast host Perth.
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