The spare parts New Zealand Knights have shocked Sydney FC with early and late goals to grab a 2-2 draw in Friday night's A-League match at North Harbour Stadium.

It was just the Knights' fifth point in 16 matches, but a welcome relief after off-field distractions, including the departure of inaugural skipper Danny Hay last week.

For Sydney, fresh from an appearance at the World Club Championship in Japan, the result left them four points behind leaders Adelaide United, who play Queensland Roar on Sunday.

The game had barely started when the bottom-of-table Knights stunned Sydney by going ahead.

Jeremy Christie's third-minute free kick from wide out on the left was headed backwards by Sean Devine into the net.

But that advantage lasted just three minutes.

The Knights conceded a free kick just out from their own penalty area and David Carney's shot took a big deflection off the wall, giving keeper Danny Milosevic no chance to clean up.

The home side kept snapping at a Sydney side playing possession football and the match looked like going in locked up at the break until Kiwi defender Frank van Eijs handled the ball in the penalty area in stoppage time.

Dwight Yorke, who again played in the midfield, calmly slotted home from the spot.

While Sydney generally controlled proceedings in the second half, the Knights had their moments and snatched a deserved late equaliser.

After Christie had gone close with a free kick and Kris Bright was denied by a good save from Sydney 'keeper Clint Bolton, youngster Jeremy Brockie scored with five minutes to go.

The goal was set up by substitute Neil Emblen, in his first match in more than two months and who had proved influential after coming on in the 75th minute.

Sasho Petrovski missed in front of an open goal in injury time ensuring Sydney would only come home with a point.

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