Soccer: Draw with Adelaide puts Sydney FC in prime spot

Sydney FC hold the trump card after playing out a 2-2 draw with Adelaide United in the first leg of the A-League major semifinal at Hindmarsh Stadium last night.

With away goals counting double in the event of a drawn two-leg series, Sydney, the favourites before the inaugural Hyundai-sponsored league kicked off, are well-placed going into the return leg in Sydney on Sunday.

Steve Corica gave Sydney their ninth-minute lead in front of an almost full house when Michael Valkanis just failed to clear off the line.

The visitors should have gone 2-0 ahead in the 31st minute when a shot from Dwight Yorke was cleared off the line.

Adelaide stormed to the other end and Travis Dodd scored a beauty for 1-1. Within two minutes the home side were in front when Fernando Rech headed home.

The scoring was completed six minutes later when Sasho Petrovski headed home a Matthew Bingley cross for his eighth goal of the season.

Central Coast Mariners hold the trump card in the minor semifinal after their 1-0 away win over the Newcastle Jets.

The only goal came in the 77th minute when Matthew Osman headed home for a valuable away goal. The victory stretched the Mariners' unbeaten run to 10 matches while the loss at EnergyAustralia Stadium was the third on the trot for the Jets.

The return leg will be played in Gosford on Friday night with the winner going on to play the loser of the Adelaide v Sydney major semifinal in next month's grand final.