Auckland FC draw 1-1 with Newcastle Jets despite red card

Louis Verstraete of Auckland FC reacts to a red card during the round 22 A-League Men match between Newcastle Jets and Auckland FC at McDonald Jones Stadium. Photo / Getty Images

Ten-man Auckland FC have held on for a 1-1 draw at the Newcastle Jets, putting them six points clear at the top of the A-League standings.

Auckland FC made it eight straight games without a defeat but this was a second straight draw, failing to push for the victory after Louis Verstraete was sent off in the second half.

Newcastle opened the scoring through Eli Adams in the 12th minute with an impressive solo effort and they had a chance to double the lead eight minutes later from the penalty spot when Nando Pijnaker handled the ball in the box.

But Black Knights keeper Alex Paulsen denied Kosta Grozos to keep Auckland in the contest.

Auckland FC then levelled through Jesse Randall in the 37th minute, bravely getting up to head home a Hiroki Sakai cross before clashing with Newcastle keeper Noah James.

In the second half, the visitors team had a few chances to take the lead but the task became harder when Verstraete was sent off with a straight red in the 72nd minute following a VAR review.

They did look to have scored a second when the ball went in the Newcastle goal in the 81st minute but it was off Tommy Smith’s lower arm and was disallowed.

Grozos had a chance to make up for his missed penalty with a free kick in the final minute of injury time but his shot went over the bar.

Auckland FC are six points clear of second-placed Western United with a game in hand and head home to host a Central Coast side next Sunday that has lost three straight.