A controversial decision denied Adelaide United on as they had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Newcastle Jets at Hindmarsh Stadium on Friday night.
Newcastle were needing a win to keep the pressure on Sydney FC to keep their finals hopes alive and will now be dependent on Sydney FC losing.
Less than two minutes had passed before the ball found the back of the net for the first time as Connor Chapman headed home a corner for the Jets only for Adam Taggart to be deemed offside.
The offside flag was not helping the Jets as Taggart struggled with the line throughout the night, seeing his lob ruled out before being denied by Galekovic after starting his run from an offside position moments later.
Dario Vidosic was the only Adelaide player to impress in the early going and nearly managed a stunner early on as he chipped Dominik Ritter and volleyed toward goal only to be denied by a stunning Mark Birighitti save.
Vidosic continued to give Ritter nightmares, showing his sublime skill again before forcing another Birighitti save. Vidosic served as a rare highlight for Adelaide early as the Jets controlled the half.
Craig Goodwin was the next to set up a play for Newcastle as he stole possession from Cameron Watson but sent his effort wide.
Newcastle took the lead in bizarre fashion as Eugene Galekovic picked up an Adelaide throw-in forcing the referee to award Newcastle a rare indirect free-kick in the box.
Adelaide gathered their defense as a wall behind the goal line as Goodwin took the kick hoping for a deflection, which is what he got as the rebound allowed Michael Bridges to tap home the opening goal.
After half-time Adelaide United finally started to look like a team that has secured a finals place as they kicked in to life.
Just four minutes in to the half Adelaide found an equalizer as Marcelo Carrusca sent the ball by Goodwin before recovering possession and sending a curling strike in to the back of the net.
Birighitti was the only thing stopping the hosts taking the lead in the 63rd minute as e denied Iain Ramsay's impressive effort before the crossbar denied Jeronimo.
It was a tight and physical encounter in the final half hour as both sides desperately wanted to find a winner.
Adelaide United thought they did just that late on when Dario Vidosic controlled the ball and struck home in the 90th minute but the goal was disallowed after the referee consulted with his assistant and ruled the goal out for offside.
That was the last meaningful moment of the match as the players were forced to settle for a draw as the boos ran down the terraces of Hindmarsh Stadium.
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