The worlds of sport and entertainment are now almost inseparably close. One relies on the other for survival, the other for a limitless supply of dramatic, unpredictable content. For at least one weekend the A-League had its turn in the spotlight, with Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton adding a dash of Hollywood to the Melbourne Victory-Sydney FC clash at Etihad Stadium.

The glamour pairing demonstrated their box office appeal, attracting plenty of theatregoers to the Docklands: 40,351 packed into the ground, more than a 100 per cent increase on both the corresponding round last year and the corresponding clash between these two bitter rivals. The press box was also unusually full for a fixture sure to give the A-League is share of post-footy season column inches.

The game itself failed to go to script for the headline duo, ending with the kind of 0-0 scoreline that soccer's detractors relish. Emerton had a weak first-half penalty saved and, despite some promising moments, Kewell failed to mark his Australian domestic debut with a goal.

The scene-stealer from the supporting cast was a returning Socceroo, just not the one the massive crowd had come to celebrate. Ante Covic, the hastily recruited Victory goalkeeper went from shot stopper to show stopper with a series of crucial saves, none more so than his excellent low dive to repel Sydney's marquee signing's tame spot kick. His Sydney FC counterpart, Liam Reddy, also deserves credit for his role in the shutout.

Shorn of possession, Emerton, operating on the right side of Sydney's midfield, belied his headline billing. The likelihood is this will not be the last time this season the former Premier League star looks innocuous due to his industrious but understated style of play.

Kewell, on the other hand, was like the leading man whose agent had it written into his contract that he had to appear in every scene. And there are plenty in the industry who would not put it past the creative Bernie Mandic to do something of the sort.

Given a free role behind Archie Thompson and Danny Allsopp, the former Leeds, Liverpool and Galatasaray schemer saw plenty of the ball, more often than not using his time in possession to fashion a shot. Aside from a header on the stroke of halftime, the majority of these were speculative strikes form distance, the kind of which at times betrayed a lack of confidence in the rest of the navy blue ensemble.

Victory fans can be encouraged by their star recruit's energy and aptitude though and he can surely be forgiven one opportunity to justify his status.

Aside from the penalty, the game's major talking point was the second half sending off of Sydney's Mark Bridge. The striker saw red for elbowing Roddy Vargas in the face, effectively ending his side's interest in the three points.

The home contingent will have left the more optimistic of the two sets of supporters. In Marco Rojas, they have the competiton's brightest prospect and his dazzling footwork will illuminate many games this term. Victory's strength in depth can also be seen, with Jean Carlos Solorzano and Isaka Cernak starting on the bench and Carlos Hernandez not even in the squad.

Under the new regime of Mehmet Durakovic and Kevin Muscat, Victory also looked to play a faster style than under former coach, Ernie Merrick. The ball was quickly siphoned wide to Rojas and Thompson and to the feet of link man Kewell whenever possible. As the relationship between this dangerous trio develops, Victory fans can look forward to possibly the finest forward line in A-League history.

Sydney held their own in an entertaining contest and would have headed into half-time ahead had it not been for Covic. Before his sending off, Bridge went close a number of times and in Terry Antonis the light blues have their own youngster with Rojas-like promise.

Ultimately a draw proved to be a fair result, once again demonstrating why movie producers employ script-writers. The leading men will return to perform in future epics and the A-League can enjoy the most productive opening weekend in its history.