KEY POINTS:
Goals and points were at a premium in round 14 A-League action.
The first two games were drawn 1-1, the last two 0-0 as the status quo remained.
It was a quiet round on all fronts in the Hyundai A-League apart from a couple of red cards.
The
straight red flashed at Melbourne Victory skipper Kevin Muscat just seconds after being booked for a foul on Wellington Phoenix captain Tim Brown raises an interesting question as he heads to the judiciary.
Given it was Muscat's first game back from suspension, the Melbourne hard man could find himself on the sideline for more than a game or two.
Queensland Roar will be without Andrew Packer for their home game against Newcastle Jets on Friday night after he was sent off for a second yellow eight minutes from time in their 0-0 draw with Sydney FC.
New Zealand referee Peter O'Leary warmed up for Sunday's NZFC thriller between Auckland City and Waitakere United by controlling Friday night's 1-1 draw between Adelaide United and Perth Glory at Hindmarsh Stadium. All Whites' midfielder Leo Bertos was one of five players booked.
O'Leary is now preparing to fly to Japan for the Fifa World Club Cup.
Richie Alagich gave the home side the lead just before halftime. Perth got back to 1-1 in the 70th minute when Jamie Harnwell scored. That goal took Harnwell's tally to five, joining Shane Smeltz (Wellington Phoenix) and Central Coast's Sasho Petrovski in second place behind golden boot leaders Alex Brosque (Sydney FC) and Newcastle's Joel Griffiths.
Despite attracting their smallest crowd of the season (20,938) to Telstra Stadium, Melbourne still had the biggest turnout of the round. Sydney had 16,659 to watch their scoreless battle with Queensland while 14,169 turned up for the derby clash between Newcastle Jets and leaders Central Coast Mariners. The smallest crowd but still a reasonable 10,678 watched Adelaide's draw with Perth.
The Phoenix open round 15 with their Friday night game at Westpac Stadium 24 hours before they line-up against the LA Galaxy at the same ground.
In the late game on Friday, Queensland are at home to Newcastle. Saturday's game in Gosford between Central Coast and Sydney holds most interest. The round is completed on Sunday with Melbourne's trip to Perth.
* Meanwhile, tonight's Sydney FC v LA Galaxy soccer showpiece has turned into a battle of the second stringers - plus David Beckham, as Sydney coach John Kosmina yesterday stood by his decision to play his youngsters.
The exhibition is an 80,000 sellout at Telstra Stadium, generating some A$3.5 million in gate receipts, but Kosmina felt no responsibility to the fans to play his best footballers. The sky blues will feature Brazilian marquee player Juninho and club captain Tony Popovic.
Kosmina said he was also considering Olyroos Mark Milligan and Ruben Zadkovich, but former Leeds striker Michael Bridges definitely will not play after picking up a knock in Sunday night's 0-0 draw with Queensland.
Striker Alex Brosque could also miss out after suffering a corked thigh, with Kosmina not taking any risks before Saturday's crunch A-League clash with leaders Central Coast.