Just one week after scoring a come-from-behind 2-2 draw against the Melbourne Victory the Phoenix were outclassed by a slick Mariners outfit that have put together impressive back-to-back victories to sit atop the Hyundai A-League table after two rounds.

Mariners forward Nik Mrdja rewarded the 9,052-strong home crowd by netting a brace, his first home goals ever in the Hyundai A-League, with Adam Kwasnik also getting on the scorers' sheet as the Mariners had the game virtually sewn up leading 3-0 at half time.

Central Coast Mariners 3
Nik Mrdja (7), (34) Adam Kwasnik (13)

Wellington Phoenix 0

Crowd 9, 052 at Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium

Sydney FC and Adelaide United played out a frantic 2-2 draw in their A-League clash at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday night.

Defender Richie Alagich opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a calm side-footed shot on the back of some fine work from Nathan Burns down the left.

Three minutes later Alagich turned villain when he pulled down Sydney's Robbie Middleby in the box and referee Mark Shield had no choice but to award the penalty.

Ufuk Talay's weak spot-kick was blocked by Robert Bajic, but the United 'keeper could only parry the ball straight back to the feet of the Sydney midfielder who saved his blushes with a neat first-time finish.

Both sides then had a heap of chances to get in front but it wasn't until the 74th minute that Alex Brosque put the hosts ahead after latching onto a sublime through-ball from Brazilian marquee player Juninho.

But Sydney's joy was short-lived when, only two minutes later, Adelaide's young Olyroo Burns took full advantage of some lacklustre defending to head home the equaliser.

Both Ruben Zadkovich and Iain Fyfe failed to clear the danger in the box and United's other exciting Olyroo, Bruce Djite, headed the loose ball across for Burns to secure the point.

Sydney's Brazilian striker Patrick marked his A-League debut with an embarrassing gaffe.

The 24-year-old should have put Sydney ahead on the hour mark when new Socceroo Brosque played in a lovely ball from the left.

Patrick somehow managed to hit his right-footed poke high and wide from about one metre from goal to the dismay of both himself and his teammates.

Sydney's other, and far more renowned, Brazilian Juninho had an impressive game, hitting the woodwork twice as well as setting Brosque up for the second goal.

His first effort was a left-footed drive which shook the crossbar and he later skimmed the post with a well-taken free-kick.

The powerful Djite had a couple of fantastic, almost identical, chances.

Shortly before the interval he broke down the middle of the park, rounded 'keeper Clint Bolton but had his shot miraculously blocked off the line by veteran Steve Corica.

In the 56th minute Djite again broke clear, rounded Bolton, but again had his shot blocked.

The result was particularly disappointing for Sydney, who moved to only one point from two home games in the opening two rounds of the season.

Adelaide have two points from two games with both draws coming on the road. AAP