It might have come too late to earn the Wellington Phoenix anything from their away game with Queensland Roar, but the goal Shane Smeltz scored in the 2-1 loss at Suncorp Stadium got him to the top of the golden boot standings.
The Phoenix and All Whites strikershares top spot with Adelaide's Bruce Djite - both having scored four in seven games.
With the first third of the season behind them, the Phoenix remain in the hunt on eight points, in fifth place on goal difference. They trail leaders Central Coast Mariners by six points but are only two behind third-placed Newcastle Jets, whom they play away on Sunday.
The spate of draws continued in seventh-round action with Adelaide, playing out a 0-0 draw in Perth, having drawn five times and Perth four. Melbourne Victory, 1-0 winners in Sydney, have also drawn five times and remain the only unbeaten team, moving into second place three points back from Central Coast. Central Coast and Newcastle finished 1-1 with second-half goals to Tom Pondeljak and Newcastle's Mark Bridges. Of further concern for the Jets was having six players booked.
Sydney continue to struggle. Danny Allsopp's 81st-minute goal was enough to get Melbourne home in front of the biggest crowd of the round - 18,436. There were further woes for Sydney with Steve Corica shown a straight red after just 25 minutes and marquee player Juninho one of four players in the home team booked.
The scoreless draw in Perth was played in front of the smallest crowd of the season, just 6252.
In the game of the round this week, Adelaide are at home to Melbourne on Friday night in a replay of last season's grand final. Sydney face the long trip to Perth for the other Friday night match while in the second Sunday fixture, Queensland Roar play Central Coast.
The Phoenix make the trip to Newcastle without coach Ricki Herbert and five of their All Whites.
