Western Sydney Wanderers have fought back from a two-goal deficit for the second time this season to draw 2-2 with Brisbane Roar after losing captain Marcelo to a suspected Achilles injury.
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Thunderstorms and lightning rolled across Suncorp Stadium on Friday as the scheduled kick-off time approached, with the match twice delayed as the weather cleared.
Wanderers, who remain top of the A-League Men ladder, lost Marcelo in the 34th minute - by which time they were already 2-0 down after the Roar scored twice inside 15 minutes.
Marko Rudan's side, who also fought back from 2-0 down against Newcastle in early November, scored twice in the second half through Nicolas Milanovic and Marcus Antonsson to snatch an unlikely point.
"Captain goes off...2-nil down...and we find a way to fight back," Rudan said.
"I am really proud of the fight and spirit of the players that came on. That is the Wanderers' way as far as I am concerned."
The match kicked off an hour late, and once the lightning abated, it was the Roar who provided the early fireworks.
Midfielder Antonee Burke-Gilroy threaded an inch-perfect pass for Nikola Mileusnic to steam onto down the right wing before beating Lawrence Thomas with a thunderous strike in the 13th minute.
Two minutes later Mileusnic turned supplier, crossing for right-back Jack Hingert to slam a second past Thomas.
After Marcelo limped off, Brisbane went to the break looking in complete control.
But attacking midfielder Milanovic turned the game on its head within a minute of the second period kicking off, firing home a half-volley from the edge of the area.
Jorrit Hendrix moved back from midfield to central defence to cover for Marcelo and the Dutchman did a terrific job, blocking efforts from Mileusnic and Jez Lofthouse.
The Wanderers showed the fighting spirit that has been a trademark of their season, with an 88th-minute glancing header from Antonsson after a wonderful cross by Marcus Younis earning the visitors a valuable point and leaving them unbeaten.
Roar coach Ross Aloisi was pragmatic about the loss.
"We created enough chances to score plenty of goals and put the game to bed but in saying that that's a team - the Wanderers - that had conceded two goals all season," he said.
"I know the players are upset and frustrated because they feel like we dropped two points but we got into areas where we could score those goals. We scored two beautiful goals as well."
On an uneven and heavy Suncorp surface, the sides turned on an entertaining game.
The night was particularly memorable for one Australian soccer legend, with 18-year-old midfielder Shae Cahill, the son of Socceroos great Tim Cahill, making his A-League debut off the bench for Brisbane.
The Wanderers were missing star forward Brandon Borrello who had surgery on his broken foot on Wednesday.
Australian Associated Press
