SYDNEY stood up to be counted on and off the field last night as the dazzle of Dwight Yorke and a massive walk-up crowd turned their A-League entry into an Aussie Stadium celebration.
The only thing missing was a win on an evening where the script was followed to the line until Sydney briefly lost the plot to allow Melbourne Victory to grab a 1-1 draw.
A passionate 25,208 thronged to watch Yorke and his support cast lay the first bricks of a dynasty -- and Yorke did his part, gliding home a diving header after 44 minutes as the first repayment on his $800,000-a-year salary.
But Melbourne had a Yorke clone of their own, 25-year-old Archie Thompson, similar of stature only more fleet of foot than the 34-year-old former Manchester United marksman.
It was Thompson who silenced the revelry after 72 minutes, steering home a header of his own to underline that competition favourites Sydney won't have it all their own way this season.
A point each was a fair reflection of an absorbing tussle as the seeds of a bitter rivalry sprouted.
If this is what "new football" is about then Football Federation Australia's makeover men might be on to something.
The crowd even had a pantomime villain to berate - dark prince Kevin Muscat - the Victory defender who lived up to his confrontational reputation by picking up an obligatory yellow card.
Yorke might not be the player of yore but the sense of occasion remains and he celebrated extravagantly after craning his neck to divert
Andrew Packer's cross past Eugene Galekovic as halftime beckoned.
But the contribution of his less celebrated teammate, goalkeeper Clint Bolton, was equally telling.
In a ding-dong duel with Thompson, Bolton did his own national team claims no harm with a string of match-altering saves to leave Thompson cursing his ill fortune, until finally vindicated with the goal he'd threatened all night.
A Sydney defence famed for its meanness looked anything but early on and Melbourne should have profited after eight minutes when Ian Fye's misplaced pass allowed Australia striker Archie Thompson to burst through.
His shot was parried by keeper Clint Bolton and Andy Vlahos fired the rebound wide of a gaping goal.
Sydney, suffering a severe case of stage fright in their A-League debut, were lucky to survive again two minutes later, this time former Manchester City striker Danny Allsopp coming close as the defence dithered.
With Dwight Yorke detailed in a deeper lying role behind twin strikers David Zdrilic and Sasho Petrovski, Sydney pulsed with attacking intent as coach Pierre Littbarski mixed adventure with pragmatism.
But the only tangible reward in a nervy opening spell were efforts from Zdrilic and Petrovski, neither of which came close to unlocking a feisty and fiery Melbourne side which carved the best chance of the first half when Thompson hit the crossbar from close range after being found in space by Kristian Sarkies.
SYDNEY FC 1 (Yorke 44)
MELBOURNE VICTORY 1 (Thompson 73)
Referee: Mark Shield
Crowd: 25,208 at Aussie Stadium.