KEY POINTS:
Goals and points were at a premium in what might be seen by some as a ho-hum start to the new A-League season.
Two games were drawn 1-1, one ended 0-0 and, at Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide United grabbed a 1-0 home win over Perth Glory for the early
lead.
The Wellington Phoenix kept themselves in touch with their come-from-behind 1-1 draw at Westpac Stadium, the same result as the season opener in Newcastle where, in a replay of last season's grand final, the Jets and neighbours Central Coast Mariners played out their draw.
But for the 16,022 who turned up at EnergyAustralia Stadium it was a long wait. Matt Simon gave the Mariners the lead in the 88th minute and they seemed set for victory. But three minutes later the home faithful had something to cheer about when Joel Griffiths booted home the equaliser from the spot to snatch a dramatic point in a game well-controlled by Matthew Breeze.
The crowd was slightly larger at the Sydney Football Stadium where the home side and Melbourne Victory played out a scoreless draw in another tight contest between two of the teams favoured [again] to be around at the business end of the season.
Top referee Mark Shields was busy, issuing three yellow cards per team.
That matched the effort by Ben Williams in Wellington who booked three players from the Phoenix and three from Queensland Roar.
Again, the two goals came close together with Charlie Miller giving the visitors the lead a minute into the second half. Shane Smeltz's equalised seven minutes later to the delight of the 10,516 who braved wet conditions.
The impasse was broken in the last game of the round where Travis Dodd scored four minutes before the break and then helped his Adelaide side hold on to send Perth, who had four players booked by Peter Green, home empty-handed. Adelaide had three booked.
This week, Adelaide, chasing a handy early lead, are away to Queensland, while the Phoenix are the only team with a second home game - against Melbourne in a replay of the pre-season Cup final.
In the Friday night opener, Perth face Newcastle. Central Coast host Sydney in the Saturday game.