AUCKLAND, New Zealand (Interstat) — In a thrilling season opener that defied pregame projections, Auckland FC and the Cen Coast Mariners battled to a 2-2 draw in A-League men’s football Friday at Go Media Stadium.

The match, which saw three goals in the final 45 minutes and a dramatic late equalizer, left both teams with a single point to begin their campaigns. The result was a surprise according to pregame analytics, as Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 2-1 victory for the home side and gave Auckland FC a 73.6 percent probability to win.

Auckland FC seized the early initiative, taking the lead in the 12th minute. Forward Jesse Randall found the net, giving the home side a boost and setting the tone for a first half they largely controlled. The Mariners struggled to generate consistent offense but found a crucial response just before halftime. Substitute Oliver Lavale, who entered the match in the 34th minute, leveled the score in the 44th minute, sending the teams into the break tied 1-1.

The second half continued at a heightened pace. The Mariners carried their momentum from the late first-half goal and took their first lead of the match in the 58th minute. Forward Sam Cosgrove put the visitors ahead 2-1, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by the Auckland backline.

As the match entered its final stages, Auckland FC pressed relentlessly for an equalizer. Their efforts were rewarded in the 89th minute, but it was the Mariners’ substitute Lavale who scored again, this time unfortunately for his own team. Lavale’s second goal of the night was an own goal, pulling Auckland FC level at 2-2 and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

The dramatic closing minutes were marred by a scuffle in stoppage time that resulted in a pair of yellow cards. In the sixth minute of added time, the Mariners’ Christian Theoharous and Auckland’s Marlee Francois were both booked following a confrontation.

Key performances shaped the outcome. Lavale’s eventful night included both the Mariners’ lone goal and the decisive own goal. Cosgrove’s second-half strike provided the visitors’ lead, while Randall’s early finish set the stage for Auckland. Critical assists came from the Mariners’ James Donachie, who also received a yellow card in the 68th minute, and Auckland’s Francois, who helped create the pressure leading to the late equalizer.

With the draw, both teams open their A-League seasons with identical records of zero wins, zero losses and one draw. Their overall records across all competitions for the season also stand at 0-0-1. The Mariners will feel they let two points slip away with the late own goal, while Auckland FC will take solace in a resilient comeback to salvage a result in their home opener.