Adam Le Fondre has had the first and last goal-scoring say as Sydney FC notched back-to-back A-League Men wins for the first time this season with a thrilling 3-2 home win over Central Coast.
Each team had a key defender sent off in the first half and both teams had a turn in the lead before Le Fondre's sixth goal of the season settled a gripping contest on Saturday.
Le Fondre put Sydney ahead in the tenth minute, but Socceroo Jason Cummings equalised from the penalty spot and scored again to put the second-placed Mariners ahead by halftime.
Le Fondre's first came after a Max Burgess shot cannoned into him and he reacted the quickest to steer the ball past Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic.
Marco Tulio came close to equalising after being set up by Cummings and the pair combined again moments later.
Tulio threaded the ball through to Cummings, who came into contact with Grant, with referee Ben Abraham awarding a penalty and initially the Sydney defender a yellow card.
After reviewing the incident Abraham upgraded the card to red and Cummings smashed the spot kick home off the underside of the bar.
The Mariners' numerical advantage lasted just a few minutes with Brian Kaltack dismissed for a foul on Max Burgess just outside the away team's penalty area.
Cummins scored his tenth goal of the season and put the Mariners ahead in the 33rd minute, when a sleepy Sydney defence didn't react quickly enough after his awkward first touch and he found the net with his second.
The drama continued in the early stages of the second half.
Le Fondre's call for a penalty was turned down and a few seconds later Tulio missed a glorious chance to increase the visitors' lead.
He somehow missed from just a few metres out after Beni Nkololo's shot had been pushed into his path by Sky Blues goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne.
Cummins shot over the bar before an unmarked Lolley volleyed a Diego Caballo cross into the net to level in the 58th minute.
English veteran Le Fondre displayed his renowned predatory instincts close to goal when he volleyed in a perfect Paulo Retre cross in the 72nd.
