An Aaron Gurd own goal just before halftime and a Clayton Taylor strike in the 72nd minute had the Jets on the threshold of securing a first home win of the season.
But it wasn't to be as Joe Lolley pulled a goal back in the 78th minute and Anthony Caceres volleyed in an equaliser in the 89th at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday.
Newcastle are winless in their last five league home games stretching back to their victory over Sydney last April and have won just one of their last seven this season.
2-1 down, 89th minute. — Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) @SydneyFC need a hero. Up steps Anthony Caceres ON THE VOLLEY 🔵🚀🔥An inspired Sky Blue fightback sealed by a moment of quality from the Socceroos star 🙌 pic.twitter.com/a9FdZ0ooeQJanuary 4, 2025
"I think we've been playing a lot better in recent weeks, getting more control of the game, having more possession and more controlled possession in their half," Taylor told Ten and Paramount Plus.
"Its getting to that point where we need to get results and that's something we struggle to do and we can't really see out games.
"We drop easy points."
The draw lifted Sydney above Central Coast on goal difference into eighth and Newcastle stayed in 11th.
Sydney have scored 11 goals across their last four games, but won just one of them.
Two weeks ago, they scored two late goals to salvage a 3-3 draw away to Adelaide.
The Jets had six shots to two in the first half on Saturday and numerous corners but each team had just one attempt on target.
Taylor finished a surging run with a shot from the edge of the penalty area turned away for a corner by Sydney goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-MearesÂ
It looked to be going Newcastle's way, but the A-League clash with Sydney FC ended in a draw. (Michael Gorton/AAP PHOTOS)
Caceres provided an insipid Sydney's only first-half attacking spark, having a shot saved by Ryan Scott and putting another effort wide.
The Jets got around the back of Sydney's defence just before the break and Gurd turned an Eli Adams cross into the six-yard area into his own net.
Sydney showed far more urgency in the first 10 minutes of the second half, with Lolley firing in two off-target shots and Adrian Segecic volleying wide.
Taylor looked to have secured the points for Newcastle with a nicely timed run before sweeping home a perfectly delivered pass from Thomas Aquilina.
Lolley gave Sydney hope with a trademark goal when he cut in from the right and fired a left-foot shot across Scott into the far corner.
Caceres completed the rescue mission when he scored after Scott made two ineffective punched clearances from a corner.
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