“Mariners claim an Asian Champions League point at The Death”

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The Central Coast Mariners scored deep into stoppage time as they fought to a 2-2 home draw against Shanghai Shenhua in the Asian Champions League on Tuesday.

After four games, the Australian champions finally picked up a point in the group stage.

They did it in the most dramatic fashion when Bailey Brandtman scored the winner in the 95th minute after the hosts trailed 2-0.

Shenhua, who were edged out by rivals Shanghai Port by a point in the fight for the Chinese Super League title on Saturday, were well supported by almost 1,000 fans in Gosford.

The visitors were forced to make a substitution after five minutes when Xie Pengfei was stretchered off after colliding with Brian Kaltak, who was shown a yellow card.

Defender Kaltak had the best chance of the first half when his header rattled the Shenhua crossbar.

But Leonid Slutsky's away team started the second half with determination and Andre Luis scored five minutes after the break.

The Brazilian attacker picked up the ball on the edge of the Mariners penalty area, turned and then deftly directed the ball into the bottom corner.

Fourteen minutes later it was 2-0 when Yu Hanchao – who had replaced the injured Xie – curled the ball into the same corner.

With 15 minutes left, Sabit Ngor beat the Shenhua goalkeeper to make it 2-1 before Brandtman popped up in the final minute to give the Australians a point.

Later on Tuesday, Shenhua's city rivals Port face Kawasaki Frontale in Japan.

J. League champions Vissel Kobe host Gwangju FC of South Korea, while Johor Darul Ta'zim are at home in Malaysia against another Korean team in Ulsan.

In the West Zone, Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr host defending champions Al Ain from the United Arab Emirates in Riyadh.

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