Melbourne has drawn its opening game of the A-League Pre-season Cup 1-1 with Newcastle after a spirited second half fightback.

The Jets were forced to repel a strong assault from the Melbourne Victory in the final 45 minutes after the hosts took a 1-0 lead into halftime.

The Jets scored on 29-minutes before the Victory pegged back the goal on 85.

Craig Deans finished off a Matthew Thompson dead-ball free-kick in the 29th minute of the first half to put Newcastle ahead.

Archie Thompson then equalised through a superb piece of skill late in the match.

Ricky Diaco released the Victory's Thompson down the right hand side with a super switch of play, giving Thompson plenty of space to steer the ball low to the ground past custodian Liam Reddy and claim an all-important point in the first round of the pre-season.

Melbourne was guilty of turning over possession in the first half but returned after the break, full of running, and aggression to dominate proceedings in the second.

"We didn't play well under pressure," Victory coach Ernie Merrick said.

"We were disjointed in the first half but were completely different in the second and were full of running at the end."

Newcastle was without star striker Ante Milicic but created plenty of opportunities in the first half only to look flat in the second.

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