KEY POINTS:
The A-League's popularity and determination to be seen as a genuine contest was further underlined on Friday night when the competition's three millionth spectator passed through the turnstiles.
The 232 Hyundai A-League matches (since the 2004 kick-off) have now attracted 3,025,775 fans at a healthy average of 13,042
- and that includes the scant attendances at North Harbour Stadium in the lamentable days of the New Zealand Knights.
The football, for the most part, has lived up to the hype and passionate fans have enjoyed their sport in top-class stadiums.
Round 13 was, in effect, more of the same - few goals (no team scored more than one) and usual spate on yellow cards (20) and three red, all for second bookable offences, adding spice to the programme.
League leaders Central Coast Mariners turned in another no-frills effort to shrug off bottom-of-the-table Perth Glory 1-0 away, with Greg Owens' 12th-minute goal enough for the win in front of the modest 7310 crowd at Members Equity Stadium.
The round opener in Brisbane, which attracted the weekend-high crowd of 17,207, was also decided by an early goal; exciting young Queensland Roar striker Robbie Kruse securing a 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory with a stunning 11th-minute strike.
Victory, still battling to get into the top four, finished the game a player down, after Mile Jedinak's dismissal.
Adelaide United treated the 10,256 fans at Hindmarsh Stadium to another thriller as they shared the points with Newcastle Jets. Joel Griffiths silenced the faithful when he put the Jets in front in the 71st minute with his sixth goal of the season - enough for him to join Sydney's Alex Brosque at the top of the golden boot standings. Six minutes later, the faithful had something to cheer about as Travis Dodd headed home the equaliser - his fourth goal of the season.
The other game, played at Westpac Stadium also ended 1-1 - a heartbreaker for the Wellington Phoenix, who had battled bravely to cling to a 1-0 lead over fancied Sydney FC deep into stoppage time at the end of the game.
A clumsy challenge and a Ufuk Talay penalty snatched a point for the visitors and left the man of the match, Phoenix goalkeeper Glen Moss, reflecting on what might have been.
Perth and Adelaide have the quick turn-around this week before their meeting out west on Friday night. The Phoenix travel to Melbourne for the Saturday fixture, with the round to end on Sunday with all the east coast teams in action. Leaders Central Coast take the short trip to Newcastle and Sydney entertain Queensland.