Sydney FC came from behind twice as they managed a 2-2 draw against Perth Glory at nib Stadium on Saturday night.
Travis Dodd thought he’d given Perth the lead in the ninth minute as he sent home Ryo Nagai’s flick but was denied by an offside flag as he moved too early.
In the 14th minute Perth wanted a penalty as Dodd found Steven McGarry who went down in the box with seemingly no contact, causing the referee to call play-on.
Sydney FC’s best chance of the opening half came in the 17th minute as Alessandro Del Piero found Jason Culina who hit it high and wide.
Vedran Janjentovic was kept busy, twice preventing Scott Jamieson late in the half but Perth’s pressure was always going to tell and in the 39th minute Shane Smeltz headed home the opener from a Josh Risdon cross to give the hosts a 1-0 half-time lead.
Perth started the second half in much the same way as the first with Sydney FC restricted to the counter and it was that counter attack that would pay off in the 63rd minute.
Del Piero kept the ball in play and set up Brett Emerton who crossed for Culina who headed the equalizer home in to the roof of the net.
Sydney kept threatening and moments later could have taken the lead as Joel Chianese broke the offside trap and set up Culina who launched his effort well over the bar from close range.
Perth restored their lead in the 80th minute after a stunning run from Dodd tore up the Sydney FC defense allowing him to cross for Smeltz who hit the ball on the half volley in to the top right corner of the net.
Two minutes later Sydney FC found their equalizer as Vukovic dropped Del Piero’s free kick right at Seb Ryall’s feet which allowed him to volley under the keeper to secure a 2-2 draw for Sydney FC.
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