Wellington Phoenix have kept their A-League premiership hopes alive with a scrappy 1-1 draw against Newcastle Jets in their penultimate regular season game.
Skipper Alex Rufer had a chance to grab all three points on offer in the final seconds of added time, but sprayed his penalty wide right to settle for a tie that may yet cost them dearly, as they battle Central Coast Mariners for season honours.
The result puts them one point clear of their rivals, with the Mariners scheduled to face Adelaide FC on Sunday.
"Pretty disappointed," admitted Rufer. "I stepped up, I've scored them in the past, but disappointed.
"I think we started the game poorly and didn't take out chances in the second half, but we bounce back next week."
Wellington were forced to chase the points, when they conceded the opening goal in the 15th minute. Jets striker Lachie Bayliss made a dangerous run to the byline and Phoenix keeper Alex Paulsen's attempt to smother the cross merely deflected the ball into the back of the net.
At halftime, coach Giancarlo Italiano injected David Ball and Oskar van Hattum into the line-up, and the Phoenix created enough chances to easily win, firing six attempts on goal to their rivals' one. Jets keeper Ryan Scott made several brilliant saves to deny Wellington.
The lead almost doubled in the 64th minute, when Phoenix defender Scott Wootton sent a lazy pass across the face of goal and was intercepted by Clayton Taylor, but his shot on goal was blocked.
The equaliser finally came in the 71st minute, when the Phoenix broke down the right and Barbarouses deflected the ball across the face of goal. Ben Old was on the far post with a return volley, which Barbarouses was able to nod home unmarked
Newcastle did find the net again, when Trent Buhagler ran onto a through ball and found Taylor in front of goal to score, but Buhagler was ruled offside.
Rufer got his chance to snatch victory, when a goalmouth scramble saw the ball deflect off the hand of defender Carl Jenkinson, but the skipper could not convert, costing his team a royal chance to push their premiership claims.
"Next week, we're going with the intention of winning the game and entertaining the fans," said Italiano. "Whether we hold the plate up or not, that will really come down to the Mariners - it's in their hands.
'Do I feel like it's dead? Well, you saw tonight not everything goes to script, so they still have to come and they've had a bit of travel."
Next week, the Phoenix host Macarthur, while Mariners visit Newcastle.
Wellington Phoenix 1 (Barbarouses) Newcastle Jets 1 (Paulsen own goal)
