Crusaders and Coleraine both hit a penalty apiece as they battled to a share of the spoils at Seaview.
The Bannsiders moved in front just before the half-hour mark when Josh Carson converted from the spot, low into the bottom corner, after Conor McKendry had been brought down the box.
Crusaders narrowly missed out on grabbing the equaliser on the stroke of half-time when Ben Kennedy sent an overhead kick from close range just past the post after Paul Heatley and Jarlath O'Rourke had created the opening.
They came close once more midway through the second half through a Jay Boyd header that Coleraine keeper Rory Brown did well to turn around the post.
But, on 69 minutes, they did level after Jordan Forsythe struck from the spot after Lyndon Kane had upended Boyd in the area and received a red card in the process.