There is no place for the faint-hearted in the Australian A-League.
Just two rounds into the highly-trumpeted new-look competition, predictions of a closely-fought contest are ringing true with no team taking maximum points and only one, the NZ Knights, not on the board.
And goals are as hard to come
by as points as the one-team, one-city combatants do battle.
Sydney FC's 3-1 win over the Knights in front of an encouraging crowd of 9827 at North Harbour Stadium was enough to propel them to the top of the table on goal difference from Queensland Roar, Adelaide United and Central Coast Mariners who too have started their campaigns with a win-draw start.
The Knights now face two away games before their next home game against Perth Glory on September 25.
Coach John Adshead took some encouragement from his team's effort against Sydney but was angry at costly lapses.
"I am angry that we show a tendency to self destruct in the face of playing some very good football," said Adshead.
Queensland could manage only a scoreless draw with Adelaide United in front of 11,020 spectators at Hindmarsh Stadium. Both teams had chances - including one each in stoppage time - but failed to find the net.
The points were also shared in Gosford where 5971 watched the Central Coast Mariners and the Newcastle Jets battle their way to a 1-1 draw. And, in the third draw of the round, Melbourne Victory, in front of a full house at Olympic Park drew 2-2 with Perth Glory.
