Simon on the spot to save Mariners, Roar winless in six

Matt Simon scored a 90th-minute penalty as A-League leaders Central Coast Mariners scrambled for a 2-2 home draw against Perth Glory.

In soaking wet conditions, which caused kick-off to be delayed by half an hour and left puddles on the pitch, lowly Perth threatened to snatch a shock win.

The home side did go ahead in the 25th minute when Daniel De Silva's shot was parried by Liam Reddy and Marco Urena turned in the rebound from a tight angle to the left of goal.

Bruno Fornaroli dragged Perth level in the 41st minute with a deft header from Neil Kilkenny's cross, and the visitors edged ahead with 14 minutes remaining when Nick D'Agostino hit a crisp shot into the bottom left corner.

That was Fornaroli's 10th A-League goal against the Mariners, making them his second favourite opponent, behind Newcastle Jets, against whom he has scored 11 times.

Central Coast pushed for a leveller and were rewarded when Luke Bodnar manhandled Simon inside the six-yard box, with the spot-kick awarded following a VAR check.

Simon slotted into the bottom right corner, giving Mariners a point that nudged them six clear of second-placed Adelaide United, yet the result halted their three-game winning streak at home.

FT | Simmo's penalty gives us a share of the points late! #CCMFC #CCMvPER #WontBackDown pic.twitter.com/4HD9m8SxM8

— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) March 14, 2021

Dylan Pierias headed Western United to a 1-0 home win over Brisbane Roar.

The persistence of Pierias paid off after he was twice denied by Roar goalkeeper Jamie Young earlier in the game, with the 21-year-old stooping to expertly guide home a cross from Alessandro Diamanti in the 72nd minute.

Pierias headed the ball across goal and into the left corner, with former West Ham and Bologna midfielder Diamanti getting a sixth assist of the season, matching Kilkenny for a league high.

For the Roar, it was a sixth successive A-League game without a win.