Wellington has come from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw against champion Melbourne in a pulsating Hyundai A-League debut for the New Zealand franchise at Westpac Stadium.

Goals from Kevin Muscat, via the penalty spot, and striker Daniel Allsopp seemed to have sealed the three competition points for the visitors on the hour, but the Phoenix rallied late to snare their first competition point – and in the end were unlucky not to bag all three themselves.

Phoenix midfielder Daniel pulled the home side back with 11 minutes remaining, heading home from close range off a corner by Michael Ferrante.

Striker Shane Smeltz then levelled the score in the 84th minute when a left flank cross from Tony Lochhead was headed home from close range.

Phoenix replacement forward Royce Brownlie hit the post with a strike in the second minute of injury time and Smeltz put a header from in front of goal over the crossbar right on fulltime as Phoenix pressed for the match-winner.

Played in clear, calm conditions, the crowd figure of 14,421 was the highest for a Hyundai A-League match in New Zealand, heading the 9827 that attended the New Zealand Knights' match against Sydney FC at North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, in 2005/06.

It also bettered the largest New Zealand crowd in the former NSL, 13,111 for the Football Kingz against Marconi in March 2001.

Wellington 2 (Daniel 80, Smeltz 85)
Melbourne Victory 2 (Muscat 19p, Allsopp 60)
Crowd: 14,421 at Westpac Stadium

Perth Glory and Newcastle Jets have kicked off their 2007/08 Hyundai A-League campaigns with an entertaining 0-0 draw at a windy Members Equity Stadium on Sunday.

The Glory dominated possession throughout the afternoon but failed to find the finishing touch when it counted, with Jets keeper Ante Covic pulling off a number of fantastic saves to earn his side a valuable point away from home.

However, the Jets also produced several golden chances and threatened to snare all three points but, like their counterparts, couldn't find the back of the net in a match played at frenetic pace.

Newcastle coach Gary van Egmond said he was pleased to come away with a point.

"It's a tough place to get a result, it's been like that for a number of years now," he said.

"We tried to take the emotion out of the game as much as possible, especially early on. I thought defensively we were very good. We scrambled when we needed to scramble, and with a bit more luck we may have scored one or two."

Perth coach Ron Smith was pleased with the effort but rued the chances that went begging.

"We had a go today but it didn't go our way," he said.

"I would have loved to have seen one of the better chances that we had in the first half go in. The second half got a little bit too open for my liking. But if you are going to try to win the game then there's always a chance that might happen."

Perth Glory 0
Newcastle Jets 0
Crowd: 8508 at Members Equity Stadium

Sportal