New Sydney FC marquee Filip Holosko scored on his A-League debut to hold Melbourne City to a 1-1 draw in a niggly but tantalising opener in Sydney.

An accomplished performance from youngster Brandon O’Neill ensured Holosko answered Wade Dekker’s early goal in front of a 17,051-strong crowd at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.

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Both sides played with intent and quality in the full-throttle end-to-end affair that changed momentum in the blink of an eye.

Unfancied Central Coast have proved no frills and no marquee stars don’t necessarily mean no thrills.

The Mariners delivered on their promise to entertain, with a 3-2 A-League opening round home win over Perth in Gosford on Saturday.

Written off by most of the pundits and without the finances to secure big name home or overseas players, the attack-minded Mariners fired 24 shots at Central Coast Stadium.

Two Diego Ferreira penalties in nine second-half minutes on Saturday earned the home team a win.

The Mariners scored three goals in only one game last season.

“I think when you make a bold statement for as long as I have about entertainment you have to back it up,” Mariners coach Tony Walmsley said.

“At the end of the day it’s not about me. I think the players needed under A-League pressure today to put a few things on the line that they maybe haven’t been asked to do before and it’s a really bold and brave thing for them go out there on match day one and deliver that type of performance.”