-
Source: Reuters
Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide United played out a scrappy scoreless draw at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.
Adelaide had the numerical advantage for the final 10 minutes but the Mariners held on after midfielder Matthew Crowell was shown the red card by referee Ben Williams for a second bookable offence.
Crowell had fouled in the 77th minute to receive his first yellow card of the game and then grabbed the ball five minutes on when Adelaide were given a free kick in the Mariners half.
Mariners striker Adam Kwasnik was left to rue a golden 73rd minute opportunity to seize the upper hand.
Strike partner Matt Simon squared the ball to Kwasnik who just needed to change the direction to beat Adelaide gloveman Eugene Galekovic on the six-yard line.
But Kwasnik hesitated and then pushed the ball into the hands of a diving Galekovic.
Adelaide skipper Travis Dodd produced the only real chance of the first half close to the half hour.
Matthew Leckie released the former Socceroo down the left and from an acute angle and Dodd's right foot strike went millimetres wide at the far post.
Mariners keeper Danny Vukovic was well beaten by the pace of the ball.
A crowd of 5437 turned up for the Mariners' home game, moved south to promote football in the capital.
