The Newcastle Jets are still searching for their first win of the season after being held to a 1-all draw by Perth Glory at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday.
Newcastle opened the scoring in the 31st minute when midfielder Steve Ugarkovic found Jason Hoffman with a through ball, and the veteran fired off a left-foot shot that Perth keeper Liam Reddy had no chance of stopping.
The Jets came agonisingly close to doubling their lead in the 53rd minute when winger Nick Fitzgerald burst into space, only to be denied by desperate defending.
Perth veteran Diego Castro equalised in the 87th minute after a frantic goal-mouth scramble.
Barely a minute later, the visitors were reduced to 10 men when defender Alex Grant was sent off for a second bookable offence.
The result leaves Newcastle second last on the ladder with two points from their first four games.
Jets skipper Nigel Boogaard was a late withdrawal because of a groin strain, allowing Lachlan Jackson to play his first game of the season in the centre of defence.
Nikolai Topor-Stanley wore the captain's armband in Boogaard's absence.
Newcastle's next assignment is A-League newcomers Western United at Geelong on Saturday week.
