While the third result is a more common and viable option in the round-ball code, drawn matches still invariably leave teams with mixed emotions.

In the case of Adelaide United coach John Kosmina, whose side's 1-1 draw with Brisbane Roar at Hindmarsh Stadium on Saturday kept his unbeaten record in check since taking over last month, the feeling was nothing but super-positive.

"You've got to be (happy)," Kosmina said. "They are the best side in the country based on their championship last season and their 36 games undefeated.

"They move the ball around well, they're a difficult side to play against and our guys pretty much matched them.

"We were smart, we showed some ticker when we needed to, we came from behind which was fantastic and we created some good opportunities. It gives us plenty to work with.

"How can you complain? We probably made the best chance of the game to be honest, in the first half when Cam (Watson) got around the back and Brucie (Djite) was not quite there in time. We got in behind them a few times."

Reds skipper Eugene Galekovic agreed with his coach's sentiments.

"It's all about character ... we were down and we came back," he said. "Earlier on in the season we might have crumbled (after conceding the first goal).

"We had the best chance of the game in the first half (through Djite) and we could have been ahead. In the end it was probably a fair result - they had a lot of possession and we had a couple more better chances."

Brisbane's superior possession rate was finally rewarded in the 60th minute when Issey Nakajima-Farran toe-poked the opening goal after receiving a clever centred ball from Rocky Visconte.

But United countered when Adelaide striker Sergio van Dijk converted a spot kick in the 78th minute following referee Ben Williams' contentious decision to award a penalty against Brisbane captain Matt Smith for bringing van Dijk down in the 18-yard box.

It appeared, though, that Smith stumbled into the big Dutchman as a result of being clipped around the ankles by Djite in the wet, slippery conditions.

Fortune favoured the Reds on that occasion, as was the case when Williams decided against awarding a penalty when Visconte appeared to be tripped in the box by Zenon Caravella in the first half.

The Roar did have one go their way though when Besart Berisha's raised hands came perilously close to brushing the ball after the Albanian striker inexplicably impersonated a volleyball spike in an attempt to repel an Adelaide attack late in the match.

"I wasn't sure," Kosmina said of Berisha's close shave. "It was hard to see from where I was so I can't call that. The referee's obviously closer."

Kosmina did believe that Williams' non-call of the first-half trip by Caravella on Visconte was the correct decision, however.

"Zenon doesn't kick anybody," the Reds manager said. "I don't think that was a penalty."

Kosmina's attention has already shifted to this Friday's clash at AAMI Park against arch rival Melbourne Victory, who finally broke through for a win this weekend under interim boss Kevin Muscat.

Victory will be taking the field for the first time under new coach

Jim Magilton, the former mercurial Northern Ireland international midfielder and Ipswich Town stalwart, following the axing of Mehmet Durakovic just seven months into his tenure.

"From what I understand he (Magilton) is fairly hard and won't take any prisoners," Kosmina said.

"He's not going to cuddle them into good health, he's going to work them I think. They'll be fired up ... he might re-organise things.

"I'm looking forward to that. I like going to AAMI after last Wednesday (when Adelaide thrashed Melbourne Heart 3-1) and the team has felt pretty good and comfortable there as well."