A late penalty has forced the Western Sydney Wanderers NPL side to share the points with Wollongong Wolves after a 2-2 draw at Wanderers Football Park.
The Wanderers held a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes, but were pegged back and lost the chance to win consecutive matches.
After a tight opening 10 minutes, the Wanderers began to create chances, with Nathaneal Blair having a goal disallowed for a foul in the build up.
There would be no such problem just moments later when Blair got in behind the defence and lobbed the ball over the onrushing Thomas Butkovic in goal, and Ariath Piol was on hand to get the final touch and put the Wanderers in front.
Sapsford then had a great chance in the 21st minute after some chaos in the box; the ball fell to his feet and he hit it towards goal, but Butkovic pulled off a smart reflex stop to deny him.
Wollongong then thought they had found an equaliser from a header, but the referee chalked it off to a player being offside in the buildup.
It would be a key moment as two minutes later Sapsford got his goal with a brilliant free kick.
From around 25 yards out, the free kick hit the underside of the bar and then bounced into the goal, leaving a sprawling Butkovic with no chance.
Just before half time Wollongong hit back through a slice of luck, with an Alex Masciovecchio cross managing to find its way into the net.
Both sides created chances in the second half, with Sapsford and Farah Koko having good chances to restore the Wanderers two goal advantage, whilst Lawrence Caruso pulled off a good diving stop down to his right to hold out the visitors.
But Wolves pushed forward and eventually they won a penalty after a foul in the box from Caruso, and substitute Lachlan Scott converted from the spot to bring his side level.
Marcus Younis on his first game back from international duty had a golden chance on the break to snatch victory, but his shot rolled just wide of the left hand upright, and the Wanderers had to settle for a draw that did little to help their quest to rise up the table.
