Soccer: Big crowds get money's worth in A-League

The head-shaking in a dramatic second round of the A-League was not confined to North Harbour Stadium where the New Zealand Knights' 1-0 win relegated Pre-Season Cup winners Adelaide United to the bottom of the points table.

In Perth, the home side bounced back from a first-up loss to beat last season's beaten grand finalists, Central Coast Mariners, 2-0 to leave the coasters in joint last place with Adelaide.

In front of 7229 fans at the Members Equity Stadium, Perth took the lead after 52 minutes when Simon Colosimo hit home a long-range free kick. Stuart Young made certain of the points with a second goal nine minutes from time.

The victory, in a game punctuated by six yellow cards, was the first by Perth over the Central Coast side.

The biggest crowd to turn up at any regular season match were treated to a stunner at Telstra Stadium.

Before 39,730 fans - more than the number watching Australian Rules at the Melbourne Cricket Ground - the Melbourne Victory made it two-from-two with their dramatic 3-2 win over defending champions Sydney FC.

The home side gave their supporters plenty to cheer about early.

Danny Allsopp scored after eight minutes. Three minutes later, following a foul by Sydney goalkeeper Clint Bolton on Brazilian Alessandro, Kevin Muscat scored from the penalty spot.

Iain Fyfe headed home from a corner in the 18th minute to get Sydney back into the game four minutes after Mark Rudan had been sent off following a tangle with Alessandro. The visitors had already lost Robbie Middleby with a dislocated shoulder.

Allsopp's second stretched Melbourne's lead to 3-1 six minutes into the second spell. David Carney scored a late goal for Sydney, who ended the round with a one-win, one-loss record.

Queensland Roar, playing away in front of crowd of 7276 in Newcastle, were never behind as they beat the Jets 3-2 to take the early league lead on goal difference from Melbourne.

Reinaldo da Costa gave the Roar their fifth-minute lead. Chad Gibson conceded an own goal 20 minutes later to allow the home side to get back to 1-1 but an own goal conceded by Newcastle captain Paul Okon handed the lead back to the visitors after 37 minutes.

Three minutes later it was all square again when Mark Bridge scored for the home side.

In late action, Simon Lynch snatched the winner for the Roar and Newcastle's Joel Griffiths was sent off two minutes into stoppage time when shown a second yellow card.

All Whites defender Steven Old was on the bench, but not used, for Newcastle. Elsewhere, Jeremy Brockie started for Sydney as did Leo Bertos and Jeremy Christie for Perth with Christie replaced late in the game by another All White, Adrian Webster.

The pressure goes on the Knights - the only team yet to concede a goal - in their next two games.

They are at home to Melbourne Victory on Sunday and five days later play the other co-leaders, Queensland, away in the Friday night match.