Roy O'Donovan put the Jets ahead from a controversial penalty in the 56th minute.

The home side held strong and appeared set to record their first win in 12 games before disaster struck in the 76th minute.

Again it was their own doing. Connor O'Toole attempted to hoof a clearance from the goalmouth but the ball thudded into the chest of captain Nigel Boogaard and rebounded into the goal.

It was the third straight game the Jets have found the back of their own net.

Replacement Valentino Yuel had a golden opportunity to snatch three points for the home side with two minutes of regulation time left but scuffed his shot from the penalty spot.

O'Doherty also had a chance at the death.

Sydney finished strongly but the Jets showed resolve missing in recent weeks to hang on for a point.

The draw moved the Jets to 14 points, but they remain bottom of the ladder, a point behind Melbourne Victory, who have played one less game.

"Our effort has been good most of the year, but I think the difference today was that we had much more discipline about what we did against another very good team," Jets coach Craig Deans said. "It is not easy to keep them out for 90 minutes. We scored an own-goal again which is an area that is hurting us a little bit.

"We are disappointed. We had a good chance two minutes from the end and you have to score them. That is the difference in football. Happier but disappointed as well."

O'Doherty was rushed into the starting side a day after joining the club from Western Sydney in a trade deal with Steve Ugarkovic.

In his first start since February, the industrious midfielder looked more than capable of filling the big boots of his predecessor.

It was a much improved effort by the Jets.

Captain Nigel Boogaard returned after seven weeks out with a fractured leg in place of John Koutroumbis, who failed a late fitness test with a sore back.

Striker Roy O'Donovan (suspension) and left wingback O'Toole (hip flexor) were the other fresh faces from the 3-1 loss to Melbourne City.

Anthony Caceres came in for a suspended Luke Brattan in the only change to the Sydney side which went down 3-2 to Western Sydney in the derby last round.

O'Doherty lined up alongside Angus Thurgate in front of the back three, with Luka Prso pushed forward to support the front two.

Poor starts have been the Jets' Achilles heel but from the get-go they were well organised, competed hard and built as the half progressed.

O'Donovan found the back of the net in the 10th minute after a piece of enterprise by Matt Millar down the right but the flag went up for offside.

O'Doherty was busy early and opened up play with crisp touches and clever switches.

Lewis Italiano got a strong hand out to parry away a Kosta Barbarouses volley in the 18th minute and the keeper did well to stick a foot out and block Milos Ninkovic's strike in the 20th.

Bobo went close with a header in the 29th minute and Ninkovic fired straight at Italiano as the shots started to mount for the visitors.

The Jets' best chance of the half came in the 35th minute from a swift counter attack. Jason Hoffman released Prso but his shot from the edge of the box was tipped over the bar by Andrew Redmayne.

Hoffman stung Redmayne's gloves in the 42nd minute as the Jets' confidence started to grow.

The match turned in the 57th minute.

Hoffman swung a corner in from the right to the back post for Lachy Jackson. The defended headed the ball down and it struck the outstretched arm of Bobo.

Referee Alex King had initially ruled that Bobo's arm was in a natural position, but after consultation with the VAR, overturned the decision.

O'Donovan stepped up and drilled the spot kick into the top-left corner. It was his sixth goal and fourth from the spot.

"VAR got it wrong, it was very clear," Sydney coach Steve Corica said.

"I'm not sure what Bobo was supposed to do. He got sandwiched between two players and if anything it should have been a foul for us, because he (Jackson) was all over Bobo.

"Its disappointing of course because that's a crucial two points that we've dropped."

Corica said his team did not deserve to win.

"I don't think we created enough clear cut chances tonight," Corica said.

"The ball speed was too slow, we were sloppy with the ball, we didn't get enough in behind them to cause problems."

Needing to chase the game Sydney coach Steve Corica introduced Trent Buhargiar and he nearly equalised with his first touch.

Paul Retre whipped a cross in from the right for Buhagiar to nail a crisp header that beat Italiano but not the crossbar.

Two minutes later disaster struck for the home side. Ninkovic delivered a cross into the box which Buhagiar helped on its way.

O'Toole attempted to clear but only managed to find the chest of Boogaard and into the Jets' net.