Newcastle Jets have come away with a point in Round One of the Hyundai A-League at Members Equity Stadium on Sunday after fighting out a 0-0 draw with Perth Glory.
Perth will be the more disappointed of the two sides, as they couldn't turn their majority of possession into goals despite creating some decent scoring opportunities.
Newcastle will be ecstatic after coming away from a long road trip with a point after losing several stars from last season including Paul Okon and Nicky Carle.
The news got worse for Glory however, as defender David Tarka was helped off with a serious hamstring injury in the first half and looks set to miss up to six matches. The promising young defender has struggled with hamstring injuries in previous seasons and this latest setback will put doubts over his immediate playing future for the club.
New Glory signing Mate Dragicevic found himself in the action on 20 minutes, seeing Ante Covic pull off a point blank save from a free header and minutes later had a second sight on goal after a curling Jamie Coyne cross, but his powerful header from eight yards went narrowly wide of the upright.
Naum Sekulovski then went close with a low effort from the edge of the area following a Nikita Rukavytsya lay back as the Glory pressed for the opening goal.
Newcastle had their best chance of the first half just prior to the break however Brazilian import Denni hit his effort disappointingly wide of the goal.
Joel Griffiths was lively for the Jets and provided an inch perfect ball across the penalty area for Mark Bridge but he blasted his first time effort over the bar from six yards when he really should have bit the back of the net.
Glory debutant Rukavytsya had a late chance to seal the points for glory after a barnstorming run from half way eluded the Jets defenders but Covic was equal to the task and palmed away the goal bound effort.
The Glory pushed hard for the winner in the final 15 minutes but couldn't find a way past the resolute Newcastle rearguard to give both sides a share of the spoils in the season opener.
Glory coach Ron Smith felt for young defender David Tarka after his injury nightmare continued when he left the field in the first half with a hamstring injury.
"It's a pretty bad tear. We won't know for definite until he has had an MRI scan, but David will be out for at least four to six weeks" said the Glory coach.
Newcastle coach Gary Van Egmond was delighted to be taking home a point from Members Equity Stadium and despite the raft of changes to his side over the off season, is confident his side can still challenge for a top four finals position, especially when Brazilian striker Mario Jardel is added to the ranks.
"Mario Jardel isn't fit right now," Van Egmond said.
"It's up to the fitness of Mario and if the visas come through, which is another issue we have with him. There's a few issues to be sorted, and we might know more as we get closer to the game against Queensland (next weekend)."