Sydney FC and Queensland Roar put on a poor advertisement for the A-League with a drab 0-0 draw as the world's most famous footballer, David Beckham, dropped by.

The match almost came alive with eight minutes to go at the Sydney Football Stadium when Queensland defender Andrew Packer was sent off for a second yellow card, but the hosts couldn't capitalise on the man advantage.

Both sides constantly gave the ball away and wasted the few chances which presented.

There was also an usually high number of clumsy challenges in a busy night for referee Matthew Breeze.

The highlight for the 16,569-strong crowd was the parading of Beckham and his LA Galaxy team-mates at the main break ahead of Tuesday night's sellout exhibition with the sky blues at Telstra Stadium.

There was also a huge cheer when Sydney's marquee player Juninho came off the bench in the 75th minute, at the same time Queensland introduced hard man Danny Tiatto after three matches out with a groin strain.

Juninho looked good and it was the little playmaker who threaded a neat through ball into the path of Alex Brosque, who was brought down by Packer about 35 metres from goal and subsequently dismissed.

The best chance of the match fell to Roar's Brazilian striker Reinaldo, who embarrassingly missed a free header about a metre from goal.

In the 35th minute, teenage sensation Robbie Kruse played in a pinpoint cross from the left and Reinaldo, on the far post, somehow managed to glance it wide.

Just after halftime there was another opportunity missed by Reinaldo, when he had his shot blocked from point blank range.

Towering Sydney defender Mark Rudan had earlier hit the crossbar with a looping header.

Olyroos representatives Mark Milligan and Ruben Zadkovich (Sydney) and Michael Zullo (Queensland) all backed up from Wednesday night's Beijing qualification success in North Korea and started. Zullo limped off in the second half with a quad injury and was in substantial pain while Roar captain Craig Moore also left the field with a calf complaint.

Sydney coach John Kosmina decided to watch the match from the box, despite ending his four-match touchline ban last week.

The result was the fourth draw in as many matches this weekend in the A-League, meaning no changes to the competition standings.

The Central Coast Mariners maintained their four-point gap over Queensland at the top, while Sydney remained a point outside the top four.

Both coaches claimed they controlled the game and had the best of the chances but admitted the game "wasn't pretty".

"I'd say we're happy to come away with a point," said Roar boss Frank Farina, whose side extended their unbeaten run to eight matches.

"Sydney were the home team and the onus was really on them to come at you if they wanted but I think we handled things well."

Kosmina defended his decision to bring Juninho on so late in a game Sydney desperately wanted to win to stay in touch with the frontrunners, saying he didn't feel a need to bring him on earlier.

When asked whether he was disappointed his side never got out of second gear, Kosmina quipped: "Well, we've only got two gears.

"I don't know, I thought we controlled the game for long periods ... Queensland didn't really threaten us.

"We covered things at the back fairly well."

The Galaxy players only arrived at the game moments before halftime and left shortly after.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP