The logjam of A-League Men sides jostling for a berth in the finals has intensified after Ryan Williams’ 97th minute header allowed Perth Glory to pinch a 2-2 draw with the Newcastle Jets.
Entering the game mired in a three-game losing run, the Jets thought they had done enough when Kosta Grozos put them ahead 2-1 in the 79th minute and restored a lead that had been erased when Trent Ostler cancelled out Trent Buhagiar’s opener.
But defensive brain fades at the back have been a constant thorn in the Jets’ side this season and with just seconds remaining they were unable to prevent Williams from darting to the near post and redirecting a Keegan Jelacic corner into the net.
The Novocastrians had already allowed Ostler an all-too-simple header at the back post from a Jack Clisby corner to level proceedings in the 52nd minute.
Combined with Western United’s loss to Brisbane in a simultaneous Saturday afternoon kick-off, it means that sides sixth through to 10th on the ALM table will be separated by no more than six points with five games remaining in the season.
The Jets, however, face the daunting challenge of travelling to Victoria to take on top-of-the-table Melbourne City next week, while Glory will host 10-placed Macarthur FC in Western Australia.
An inch-perfect cross from Japanese import Manabu Saito found Buhagiar to open the scoring in the 36th before Ostler restored parity seven minutes into the second half.
Grozos thought he won it when Clisby’s clearance of a Thomas Aquilina cross sat fortunately for him, only for Williams to pop up late.
Source: AAP