SYDNEY (Interstat) — Sydney and Melbourne Victory played to a 2-2 draw in a frenetic A-League match Saturday at Allianz Stadium. The result left both clubs with identical records of one draw and no wins to open the season.

Substitute Juan Mata opened the scoring for Melbourne Victory in the 34th minute. Sydney responded with two goals in quick succession, from Charles Nduka in the 69th minute and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos in the 73rd, to take a late lead. Ahmet Arslan leveled for the visitors just two minutes later in the 75th, completing the scoring. Four yellow cards were issued in a physical contest. The draw defied a pregame projection that heavily favored Sydney to win.