The Newcastle Jets and Sydney FC have fought out a bruising 0-0 draw at EAS in a game which saw substitute Mitchell Prentice sent off, he had come on in the 70th minute, received a yellow card in the 83rd minute and then a red card in the 88th minute.
For the Jets Daniel Piorkowski who was signed at 4.55pm late yesterday afternoon made his debut, Jade North recovering from jet lag was on the bench as was Danish import Jesper Hakansson.
For Sydney John Aloisi and Tony Popovic had their first starts for this season. Both ex Jets grand final winners from last season Stuart Musialik and Mark Bridge also started and the announcement of their names from the ground announcer brought wild jeers from the home crowd prior to kick off.
It's the Jets who create the first opportunity a beautiful Joel Griffiths pass has Zura in the clear, but from a sharp angle his fierce shot hits the near side netting.
On 12 minutes a Song Corner finds Joel Griffiths his header just over the cross bar.
Sydney respond with a quick counter attack Brosque is away and rather than shot he cleverly ties up Aloisi who in front of goal has his shot blocked by the Jets defence.
On 22 minutes a smart Cole corner finds Fyfe at the near post but his shot is wide of the near upright.
It's a fierce battle in the middle of the park and Song for the Jets is winning plenty of possession. He is involved in a quick Jets break and his cross finds Joel Griffiths but his header is at Bolton.
On 43 minutes it is Song who finds Elrich his fiece shot from outside the penalty area is spilled by Bolton but before Joel Griffiths can tap the ball in Bolton recovers.
The final action sees a apologetic Bridge foul Joel Griffiths and receive a yellow card.
The first half ends its 0-0.
The second half commences with a Holland cross which hits the cross bar and is cleared by the Sydney defence for a corner, the Jets have three in a row and from the third a Hoffman header is cleared off the goal line.
The Jets in the 54th minute put together the best move of the game Song finds Zura in the penalty area he backs for Holland who fires just wide.
The Jets have the majority of the play but Sydney still look as if they can sneak the points, a Cole corner finds Aloisi in the penalty area his header is just wide.
On 64 minutes Zura departs, he looks utterly exhausted, he is slowly building up his match fitness and is looking better but he is still a 'work in progess' particularly with the timing of his runs. He is replaced by Danish import Jesper Hakansson who also looked much better in this match than his previous contribution.
Wheelhouse with 20 minutes to go unleashes a 30 meter thunderbolt that has Bolton tumbling the ball to give away a corner, from the resultant Song corner Adam Griffiths header goes just wide and the Jets almost take the lead.
With 14 minutes remaining it looks like a battle field as players from both teams go down with cramp and it takes a few minutes for play to resume as the players are treated.
Musialik could have been a hero for the visitors but he blasts over the cross as the ball comes to him from a clearance.
There are two goal mouth scrambles as the Jets try to force in a goal in the dying minutes but this match ends 0-0 this left Jets coach Gary Van Egmond pleased his team didn't concede a goal and Sydney's John Kosmina happy to come away with a point.