KUALA LUMPUR: Injury-hit Terengganu pulled off a surprise by holding Australia's Central Coast Mariners 1-1 in an AFC Cup Group G match at the Central Coast Stadium on Wednesday.
The Turtles' injury crisis saw them listing only four substitutes for the match. Terengganu were without defenders Azam Azmi Murad, Shahrul Nizam Ros Hasni, Alif Zakaria and Safwan Mazlan.
Terengganu coach Tomislav Steinbruckner had to deploy midfielder Nor Hakim Hassan as a makeshift rightback. The plan seemed to work as the Australians couldn't break through despite having the lion's share of the ball possession.
After the first half ended goalless, Terengganu took a surprise 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute through Engku Nur Shakir Engku Yacob's header off a corner.
However, the Turtles' defensive game wilted towards the end as Miguel Di Pizio struck the equaliser for the hosts in the 87th minute.
The draw leaves Terengganu second in the group with nine points after five matches, a point behind the Mariners. Bali United, third, have four points and the Philippines' Stallion Laguna have only one point from four matches.