KEY POINTS:
Second-half substitutes Adrian Caceres (Melbourne Victory) and Patrick (Sydney FC) snatched vital goals within minutes of entering the action in another round of tight A-League matches.
Two fifth-round matches were drawn 2-2, and the other two won 1-0 as victories and goals remain at a premium.
Of the
20 matches played this season, 11 have been drawn. The 20 matches have produced only 39goals.
Three teams remain unbeaten, with early pacesetters Central Coast Mariners faring best with four wins and a four-point lead over Newcastle Jets - who in turn are four points clear of a pack of four teams, including the Wellington Phoenix, locked on five points.
Adelaide United, held 2-2 in Wellington on Saturday night; and Perth Glory, who will be in the capital on Sunday, have yet to win but with four and three draws respectively, remain in touch.
Sydney scored their first win of the season - 1-0 away to Queensland Roar - against the odds. Well behind on the shot count (23-8), corners (8-0) and goalkeeper saves (9-0), Sydney eventually stunned the biggest crowd of the round, 16,5832, when Patrick scored two minutes after entering the game as a 67th minute substitute.
Melbourne needed a late goal to snatch a 2-2 away draw with Newcastle Jets who were 2-0 ahead after 21 minutes. Archie Thompson got one back in the 65th minute but it was left to 80th-minute substitute Caceres to score the late equaliser for the Victory's fifth successive draw.
Central Coast, at home, but in front of the smallest crowd of the round (9274), were slightly the more dominant team but still had to wait until the 81st minute before Sasho Petrovski scored the only goal of the match to beat Perth, who have scored only one goal and conceded three.
The league leaders' attack has hardly set the competition alight - they have scored just six goals. The key to their success remains the strong play by their defence, who have yet to concede a goal.
The Coasters face perhaps their biggest test this weekend: the trip to Hindmarsh Stadium to play Adelaide United who, with seven, have scored the most goals - one more than the Phoenix and the Mariners.
Newcastle will make the short trip to Sydney fully aware they will still be in second place at the end of the round no matter what.
Melbourne's chase for that elusive first win continues at home when they meet Queensland in Friday's round opener.
