Adelaide United coach Marco Kurz labelled his 10-man Reds side "special" after coming from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw with the Central Coast Mariners.
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In a match marred with controversy, Andrew Hoolegave the visitors the lead after just six minutes courtesy of a well-taken free kick which Adelaide will argue should never have been awarded.
On 18 minutes the Reds lost Ersan Gulum to a controversial red card issued by referee Shaun Evans, forcing the hosts to see out the remainder of the game a player down.
After conceding an own goal early in the second half, Adelaide replied through Jordan Elsey's headed goal just after the hour and George Blackwood's powerful equaliser seven minutes from time.
"One of my qualities are to give my team confidence and belief and the quality to fight until the end of the game," Kurz said.
"But the team is special, it's correct.
"I think the team spirit, the belief in our game and in the team is one of our biggest qualities - it's a compliment."
Kurz was left frustrated by some of the match official's decisions, with the German coach receiving a caution just before the restart - his second of the season.
The contentious decisions included a handball by Hoole that was missed before a foul by Isaias allowed the Mariners attacker to score the opener.
Replays showed minimal contact between Gulum and Trent Buhagiar which led to the Reds defender's send off.
"I think today there were a lot of hard decisions against us," Kurz said.
"But we respect it - we cannot change it.
"But I think in a lot of things the ref was not on our side maybe."
While the home fans were calling for both decisions to be referred to the video assistant referee (VAR), Kurz also questioned its use, or lack thereof, comparing it to the regular application earlier in the season.
"I didn't understand the VAR because in the first rounds we watch VAR for every free kick, for every thrown in," he said.
"And now, nothing.
"I agree that today, you have a couple of scenes where you can watch the VAR and you have time to make the right decision."
Mariners coach Paul Okon was disappointed his side couldn't kill off the Reds and make the most of their numerical advantage.
"It's not a question of us not being able to hold out - we've got the extra man," he said.
"We didn't manage the situation as well as what we needed to.
"We had the opportunity at 2-0 to make it 3-0, an open goal, a tap in."
Australian Associated Press
