Soccer: Little joy for fans in drab round

Melbourne Heart fans celebrate a win against the Wellington Phoenix. Photo / Getty Images

It will not go down as one of the great rounds in A-League history - and not only the Wellington Phoenix were feeling miserable.

The six games - including Wednesday's game between Melbourne Victory and the Phoenix - produced just seven goals with two scoreless results and a 1-1 draw. Newcastle, 2-0 winners at home over Perth, were the most successful team.

Brisbane Roar and Hyundai A-League leaders Adelaide United fought out a 1-1 draw and Gold Coast and Central Coast ended 0-0.

Gold Coast should have done better against the Mariners. They had 12 scoring attempts to three but, tellingly, both sides managed just one on target.

Both also failed to convert any of the six corners they forced. And the home team had other set-play opportunities in being awarded 21 freekicks for fouls committed by the visitors.

Gold Coast have an early chance to do better when they host Newcastle Jets tomorrow night.

It was a similar story at Dairy Farmers Stadium. North Queensland led the scoring chances 12-8 over Melbourne Victory but the visitors had four on target compared with the Fury's three. The home team led the corner count 10-1 but failed to convert.

It was the second scoreless draw in three days for the Victory after the same result against the Phoenix at AAMI Park.

There was plenty of action, but only two goals, at Suncorp with the Roar and Adelaide both creating 14 scoring chances, of which each had seven on target. They also shared the corner count (5-5).

Mathew Leckie gave Adelaide the lead after 27 minutes but within seven the home team equalised through Thomas Broich. Brisbane enjoyed 54 per cent of possession.

In the round opener at EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle took the early lead through captain Michael Bridges after 10 minutes. They held that advantage throughout but did not make it safe until a minute from time when 79th-minute substitute Labinot Haliti scored. It was an eventful night for Haliti who was also booked.

Given their advantage both in possession (54 per cent) and 15-9 scoring opportunities (6-4 on target), Melbourne Heart would have expected more than a 2-1 win over a dispirited Phoenix side.

The Heart did not help their cause in being pinged for 14 fouls, to the seven committed by the Phoenix, but did enough to suggest they could have added to the 51st and 67th minute goals scored by John Aloisi and Alex Terra.

Apart from some very early enthusiasm and a late rally after Tim Brown closed the gap, the Phoenix rarely threatened Clint Bolton's goal.

The Phoenix have an early chance to right the sinking ship when they meet North Queensland at Westpac Stadium on Friday night. A win would put them back in the mix, a loss would compound their woes as they are away a week later to the Gold Coast.