KEY POINTS:
The fifth Oceania Champions League battle between Auckland City and Waitakere United was another arm wrestle.
Like two of the four previous encounters, the Kiwitea St clash ended 2-2. A fourth ended 1-1 and the other, earlier this year, was won 1-0 by United.
The pity was that this game, with so much riding on it, was played as the season-opener. The return, at Trusts Stadium on March 29, will almost certainly be the group A decider.
For both teams it was a decent hit-out but with signs they were under-done and needing time to settle. But that in no way detracted from the game as a spectacle.
There were plenty of positives. The ground was at its immaculate best, a crowd of around 1200 turned up in perfect conditions to watch the 19th derby clash between two clubs chasing O-League honours and beyond that a return to next year's Fifa's World Club Cup.
Coaches Colin Tuaa and Chris Milicich shuffled the pack in putting out new players. City's Tuaa introduced Solomon Islanders Nelson Sale and Alick Maemae along with Matt Williams (ex Waikato FC/Melville) into midfield and new captain Ivan Vicelich into his defence along with Spaniard Xavi Roca and another former Waikato player Matt Friel.
Milicich had left back Ian Hogg and Brazilian midfielder Adriano Pimenta on show for the first time. Hogg quickly made his mark as the first player, after just 11 minutes, to be booked by Peter O'Leary. Roca too had a first - one he would prefer to forget - when he was stretchered off with a knee injury after 35 minutes and needed a trip to hospital.
Roca's unfortunate departure opened the way for Tuaa to make a crucial, and what quickly proved an inspirational switch.
He dropped Chad Coombes back to right back and introduced Keryn Young to join Grant Young in a two-pronged attack to run at United's centre-back pairing of Danny Hay and Neil Emblen.
The gamble paid an almost immediate dividend when Jordan gathered a ball from Maemae, shot on sight - just wide. A minute later the radar was switched on as Jordan split the United defence and finished clinically for 1-1.
Totori had earlier given the visitors their 22nd minute lead with a smart strike from the acutest of angles after turning inside Friel. But, it must be asked why Totori then abandoned his role wide on the right.
Jordan's stocks rose further three minutes into the second spell when he unleashed a 24m cracker which goalkeeper Richard Gillespie could only turn and retrieve.
But, as the home faithful sensed a winning start to their season, O'Leary ruled against Friel's challenge on Daniel Koprivcic. Adriano stepped up but just as quickly blasted his penalty high over Ross Nicholson's goal.
Before the City players could savour their good luck, substitute Paul Seaman pounced on a loose ball and ripped home a cracking long-range equaliser.
Jordan almost had the last say but his near post header from a ball played in by Salesh Kumar, which may well have gone in, snaked over the top.
