A-League: Adelaide United 2 Sydney 2

Corey Gameiro’s 82nd-minute header earned 10-man Sydney a 2-2 draw with Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium on Friday.

After Ranko Despotovic put the visitors ahead after eight minutes, Adelaide, already without Argentine pair Marcelo Carrusca (groin injury) and Jeronimo Neumann (suspended), lost in-form striker Bruce Djite (groin) and playmaker Sergio Cirio (hamstring) in the first half hour.

But Fabio Ferreira, returning from an adductor injury, conjured the equaliser for the hosts before Jake Barker-Daish converted a penalty in the 72nd minute.

Nick Carle was sent off for two bookable offences, but Sydney rallied impressively as substitute Gameiro nodded home eight minutes from time to earn his side a share of the spoils.

Eight minutes in, Richard Garcia, out wide on the left, whipped a low cross that Despotovic slotted home, with United goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic out of position.

Ferreira got on the scoresheet in his comeback from injury to haul the sides level and Carle was shown his second yellow card for hanging on to Isaias after 68 minutes.

Matt Jurman was punished for a foul from behind on debutant Anthony Costa in the area and Barker-Daish duly drove the resulting penalty into the top right-hand corner to give Adelaide the lead.

But Sydney showed tremendous resolve and were rewarded for their efforts when dead-ball specialist Nikola Petkovic delivered a stinging free-kick that was headed home by Gameiro to make it 2-2 with eight minutes remaining.