Newcastle's Georgian striker Beka Mikeltadze has unveiled a T-shirt tribute to invasion-hit Ukraine after scoring from the penalty spot in his team's 2-2 A-League Men draw with Macarthur FC.
Mikeltadze's spot kick conversion took his tally to eight goals from 11 games for the Jets this season and cancelled out Tomislav Uskok's 21st-minute opener for Macarthur at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday.
A wonder strike from Tommy Oar in the second half looked to have secured the Bulls a win but substitute Eli Babalj popped up with a late header to level for the home side.
Newcastle played expansive, attacking football but defensive lapses cost them dearly as their search for back-to-back wins under Arthur Papas goes on.
"I wasn't aware of it," Papas said of Mikeltadze's celebration.
"He's from a country where right now there's a lot of things happening and I know it means a lot to Beka.
"We had more chances ourselves but we need to be more clinical because the game could have been finished if we take our chances."
The Jets responded to Uskok's goal with intensity and, after surviving an onslaught on goal in the 32nd minute, Macarthur relieved some pressure when they moved the ball up field.
As they did so, referee Adam Kersey was called aside for a VAR review after Lachlan Rose had appeared to handle the ball in the Macarthur box.
Kersey pointed to the spot and Mikeltadze slotted past Filip Kurto before running behind the goal, picking up a bag and unfurling a T-shirt bearing the Ukrainian flag.
Mikeltadze was surrounded by his Newcastle teammates as he lifted the T-shirt to the crowd and then placed it on the advertising hoarding behind the Macarthur goal.
Sam Silvera had the chance to double the Jets' lead but his effort on the stroke of halftime hit the crossbar and bounced clear of play.
Their wastefulness looked to have proved costly when Oar scored a well-cushioned volley on the hour mark after the Jets failed to properly clear.
Newcastle goalkeeper Jack Duncan couldn't get anywhere near it and Ante Milicic's men looked to be cruising to victory.
But Brazilian midfielder Daniel Penha whipped in a cross towards Babalj who headed in straight after coming onto the field.
Babalj thought he had scored a 90th-minute winner but the goal was ruled out for offside.
"I am super proud of my boys," Milicic said.
"Hopefully everyone is OK and we can refresh and move forward.
"In the last 10 minutes of the first half we were on our knees.
"I thought we had a good go in the second half but on the balance of play it's probably a fair result."
