Melbourne City squandered a glorious chance to move five points clear at the top of A-League Women by missing two penalties in a 0-0 draw against Central Coast in Gosford.
Injury-prone Matilda Holly McNamara won both spot kicks after coming off the bench in her fourth cameo performance after recovering from a third knee reconstruction.
Mariners goalkeeper Sarah Langman produced a heroic second-half performance, saving a Rhianna Pollicina spot kick and making several other stops to earn her side a barely deserved point.
She dived to her left to keep out Pollicina’s penalty but enjoyed a stroke of fortune with Venezuelan Mariana Speckmaier putting her 89th-minute penalty wide of the goal.
Unbeaten City had over 62 per cent of possession and enjoyed 10 extra shots with five more on target than the hosts, completely dominating the second half.
They went three points clear of second-placed Brisbane Roar, who have a game in hand and a superior goal difference.
The draw at Industree Group Stadium lifted the Mariners one point above Adelaide into fourth on goal difference, though they have played a game more.
City were coming off four straight wins, but have drawn both of their games against the Mariners.
Melbourne had almost 60 per cent possession in the first half, but neither goalkeeper had a difficult save to make despite each side producing five shots.
The second half was one-way traffic with City peppering the home goal.
Leticia McKenna rattled the crossbar with a fierce shot from 20 metres before McNamara entered the fray in the 68th minute.
Central Coast were adamant the foul on McNamara by Irish international defender and Collingwood AFLW midfielder Sarah Rowe, making her first ALW start, happened outside the penalty area.
Langman pulled off a fine save to deny Pollicina, who was later substituted, but was grateful to see Speckmaier’s spot kick fly wide after McNamara was clearly fouled by Bianca Galic.
