David Villa struck a late equaliser as Melbourne City snatched a 1-1 draw in Sunday’s A-League clash with Newcastle Jets at AAMI Park.

Jets striker Edson Montano had threatened to upstage Villa, breaking the deadlock with a bullet-like header in the 62nd minute.

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Newcastle central defender Kew Jaliens and goalkeeper Mark Birighitti, responsible for defusing so much of the danger the hosts created, worked tirelessly to deny Villa.

But the crowd of 15,717 – a non-derby record for Heart/City – would not go home disappointed.

Teammates mob David Villa after his late goal. Photo: Getty

Spain’s all-time leading goal scorer, the man they had all come to see in his first home game at City, fired home a wondrous goal from the edge of the box in the 87th minute.

Birighitti saw it coming, but there was little he could do as Villa struck it sweetly to make it two goals from two games in the A-League.

There was five minutes of injury and time and both sides had chances in a frenetic end, but they were forced to split the points.

City dominated the first half and looked potent throughout the clash, with Villa, Damien Duff, Aaron Mooy and Massimo Murdocca all influential.

They created a glut of chances.

A powerful shot from David Williams went within centimetres of the crossbar in the ninth minute, while Villa almost found the back of the net with a fine header late in the first half.

Instead it was Ecuadorian striker Montano, who had previously seen very little action due to the hosts being starved of possession, that scored first.

Birighitti was one of his side’s best as they threatened to claim a scrappy win, boldly racing out of his box on a number of occasions.

The most memorable came in the 43rd minute, with the 23-year-old’s diving header clearing the ball moments before Villa would have sent it into the back of the net.

Both sides have one point to show from the opening two rounds, with City facing rivals Melbourne Victory on Saturday.

City’s first home game since being rebadged was at least a financial success, with the club selling out of their new home jersey.