The NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers pulled of a spirited second half comeback to register a 2-2 draw against Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium on Saturday night.
The hosts went into the lead 2-0 at the break before Dimas and Steven Lustica netted second half goals to claim a point.
The result extends the Wanderers’ unbeaten streak in the league to six matches heading into Friday’s elimination final.
Adelaide United came out firing with Eli Babalj having the first shot of the night after working his way past Aritz Borda before forcing Vedran Janjetovic to tip the ball over.
Nicolás Martínez was quick to reply with a beautiful curved shot that just missed the far post.
The home side went into the lead when a reckless tackle by Borda gifted United a penalty, Marcelo Carrusca converting from the spot.
Adelaide then doubled their lead after some chaos in the box led Dylan McGowan to finish off Sergio Cirio’s cross-shot.
The Red & Black were given a chance to half the deficit before half time when a handball by Iacopo La Rocca handed the Wanderers a penalty but Martinez’s spot kick was smartly saved by Eugene Galekovic.
The Wanderers would find their goal on the hour mark, as Dimas nodded home after Steven Lustica’s free-kick cannoned off the crossbar.
The Wanderers were awared a second penalty when La Rocca upended former teammate Shannon Cole in the box.
Lustica stepped up this time and converted, drawing the scores level with his first goal for the Red & Black.
The point was enough for Adelaide to avoid the dreaded wooden spoon, while the Wanderers will now head into the finals series full of confidence after a six-game unbeaten run.
The date and opposition of the Wanderers’ first finals match will be confirmed following the match between Perth Glory and Melbourne City at 7:00pm on Sunday night.
