Adelaide United stretched its unbeaten run to nine matches as the A-league leaders were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom-of-the-table New Zealand Knights in Auckland.

A first-half goal from Louis Brain was cancelled out by a 71st minute reply from the Knights' Chinese import Xiaobin Zhang at North Harbour Stadium.

It was just the second time in 10 away matches that the runaway competition leaders haven't won this season, while for the Knights, it completed a winless season at home.

Already assured of first place, Adelaide travelled to Auckland with a reshuffled side with Chinese striker Qu Shengqing earning a rest from coach John Kosmina, and Carl Veart and Travis Dodd absent through suspension.

The visitors went to halftime with a 1-0 lead but could have had at least two more goals with headers not quite hitting the mark.

Brain opened Adelaide's account in the 21st minute after Knights defender Cole Tinkler coughed up possession.

Adelaide created more attacking chances and were quick to break out of defence, largely through Brazilian import Fernando Rech who was the standout figure.

He nearly scored in the 24th minute when his header was well saved by Moss, then 10 minutes later Michael Valkanis should have made it 2-0 but his header was well cleared off the line by a diving Noah Hickey.

The second half was more even as the Knights finally created chances.

The addition of Zhang, on for Kris Bright in the 67th minute, proved a masterstroke for Knights manager John Adshead.

Four minutes later Zhang scored his first goal for his new club from a Noah Hickey cross, touched on by Sean Devine, and Yhang nodded home from 5m out.

Both sides had chances to nail the winner in the dying minutes, with Devine coming closest for the hosts with a left foot shot which just went wide.

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