Wanderers rally to battle back for draw against Adelaide

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Western Sydney Wanderers fought back from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw with Adelaide United and a share of the spoils on Saturday night.

A 10th-minute penalty from Marcelo Carrusca and Dylan McGowan's 38th-minute goal gave the hosts a buffer at Coopers Stadium.

But the Wanderers struck through captain Dimas (63rd) and a Steven Lustica penalty on 74 minutes to level the score -- after Nico Martinez had a first-half spot kick saved.

The match rounded out the Reds' A-League campaign with last season's champions avoiding the wooden spoon by a point -- that unwanted honour went to the Newcastle Jets.

Western Sydney moved up to fifth and turn their attention to the finals.

The Wanderers fashioned a chance on two minutes when Eli Babalj intercepted a square pass from Aritz Borda and raced through on goal, only to be denied by Vedran Janjetovic.

It wasn't long after that the Reds did break the deadlock courtesy of a spot kick from Carrusca.

The Argentine stepped up and sent Janjetovic the wrong way after Babalj was tackled from behind inside the area by Borda.

Nico breathed some life into the Wanderers with a surging run, dancing past three Adelaide players before firing a shot just past the post.

United doubled their lead after a well-worked short corner. While the initial cross was cleared, the rebound fell to Cirio who fired low and hard across the goal where McGowan was on hand to tap in from close range.

Western Sydney should have pulled one back on the stroke of half-time when they were awarded a penalty, with Shannon Cole's cross striking the arm of Iacopo La Rocca.

Nico stepped up but his spot kick was brilliantly saved by the outstretched right hand of Eugene Galekovic.

The Reds started the second half brightly with Babalj and Cirio linking nicely on halfway to release the Spaniard. He cut the ball back for the striker whose shot went just wide.

The Wanderers halved the deficit just after the hour courtesy of a set piece from Lustica.

The midfielder's free kick from just outside the area thundered against the cross bar with Dimas unmarked to head into the net.

Western Sydney drew level 10 minutes later after La Rocca gave away a second penalty for a foul on Cole.

Lustica stepped up and picked out the bottom corner, sending Galekovic the wrong way.

Tony Popovic's Wanderers dominated the final 10 minutes but failed to carve out any real clear chances.

Cirio did find the net in injury time but his effort was ruled out for offside.