Melbourne City force late draw against Newcastle Jets

Melbourne City and Newcastle Jets have shared the spoils in a richly entertaining 2-2 A-League draw at AAMI Park.

Fine playmaking efforts from Daniel Arzani and Pato Rodriguez delighted the 7,790 in attendance, though neither man was on a winning side.

Arzani netted his first senior goal from the penalty spot, cancelling out Nikolai Topor-Stanley's opener in the first half.

Newcastle looked like they had grabbed a barely deserved winner when debutant Riley McGree danced his way through City's midfield to produce a goal for Jason Hoffman.

Instead, Luke Brattan set up Dario Vidosic for his third goal in two games, to give City a share of the points.

It might have been all three, save for a spectacular Steven Ugarkovic goal-line clearance in the final minute of the game. Ross McCormack raced onto Daniel Georgievski's failed backpass header and thought he'd chipped Jack Duncan for a late winner in potentially his last game in a City shirt.

They might not have won but on this form, City will be worthy contenders for silverware this season.

Jack Thomas/Getty Images

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Warren Joyce's side warmed into the contest, playing with a similar sparkle to Sunday's 5-0 rout of Adelaide United.

The Jets started on top, with Rodriguez twice skinning Arzani before delivering a neat chip, headed into the far corner by Topor-Stanley amid questionable marking.

When City's defence did wake up, they were in the heart of their best attacking moments.

Scott Jamieson combined well with Michael Jakobsen, and when Harrison Delbridge got in on the act, City had the ball in the net -- but ruled out correctly for his manhandling of Ivan Vujica.

City's pressure eventually told, with Stefan Mauk's trickery forcing Georgievski into a rash challenge in the box -- with Arzani converting the ensuing penalty.

McCormack, playing his last game of his current deal, came on as a substitute but it was another replacement that left his mark.

McGree's run allowed Andrew Nabbout to strike at Dean Bouzanis, who spilled the ball in the path of Hoffman to tap home.

Newcastle came close to pulling off a smash-and-grab success, before Vidosic's header levelled the game..

The result did little for either side's hopes of hauling in leaders Sydney FC.

Newcastle stay second, six points behind the leaders, with City a further four points back.