The Wanderers and Auckland FC have fought to a 1-1 draw in an exciting contest at GO Media Stadium on Saturday night, with the Wanderers extending their unbeaten run to eight matches this Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Nicolas Milanovic scored an 11th goal of the season to equalise and also move equal top of the goalscoring ranks, as the Wanderers also moved back into the top four.
Head coach Alen Stajcic introduced Alex Gersbach to the starting lineup for the first time since he arrived in January, and he was part of an intense Wanderers performance to begin.
There was a slight tactical shift, with Josh Brillante dropping back to make a back three and allowing the fullbacks to bomb forward to great effect as they dominated the ball and chances to begin the match.
Bozhidar Kraev looked to continue his good goalscoring run as he had an early volley blocked, before having a fantastic chance to open the scoring, only to be denied by a great Alex Paulsen save.
Brandon Borrello then went close from a Gabriel Cleur delivery, and then Kraev thought he put the Wanderers in front when he finished off a brilliant flowing team move.
However, after a long VAR review, it was chalked off as Zac Sapsford was deemed to be in an offside position in the buildup.
Sapsford then had a smart volley stopped by Paulsen, before Auckland took the lead against the run of play through Luis Gallegos on the stroke of half-time.
They could have been 2-0 up at the break had it not been for the heroics of Lawrence Thomas, who made a great stop to deny an acrobatic effort from Max Mata.
The Wanderers were hugely unfortunate to be behind after a strong half of football, but they hit back quickly in the second half, and it was Milanovic once again.
He used his trademark move of cutting in onto his left foot, and his low drive squirmed past an unsighted Paulsen and into the goal to restore parity to the game.
Substitute Marcus Antonsson then had a fantastic opportunity soon after replacing Sapsford, but he sliced a volley attempt wide of the goal after a mistake from the Auckland defence.
The game became more stretched in the last 15 minutes as both sides created chances to score.
Borrello headed wide from a great Milanovic cross, whilst Auckland also had a flurry of chances as they pushed forward buoyed on by their home fans.
The Wanderers had arguably the best chance of the second half from a blistering counter-attack, with Kraev playing in substitute Jack Clisby on the left; the fullback unleashed a shot any striker would be proud of, but it cannoned off the crossbar after Paulsen got the deftest of fingertips on the shot in an incredible feat of goalkeeping.
Auckland also had chances, with Guillermo May firing over from close range, and Hiroki Sakai badly miscuing a good chance after the hosts broke forward in quick fashion.
It was a tense period in stoppage time as both teams searched for a late winner which would be crucial in the minor premiership and finals race, but there would be no late twist, and the sides would settle for a draw which was probably a fair result.
It is a good point for the Wanderers in one of the toughest fixtures of the season and allows them to move ahead of the Melbourne Victory on goal difference.
They return home next weekend in a huge match against Western United at CommBank Stadium where they will be celebrating the contribution of the grassroots community with their annual Grassroots Recognition Round.
