Football roundup: Can draws lead the Wellington Phoenix to glory?

A draw is a foreign concept to many sports fans. In New Zealand's biggest sport, rugby, only four percent of games end level due to the varied scoring nature of the game. In traditional American sports, a 'tie' is frowned upon and must be avoided at all costs. Even in 'soccer' they tried the inspired but since retired 35-yard shootout method of evading a one-point reward for 90 minutes of toil.

The concept of the draw remains a stick detractors of the beautiful game hit it with repeatedly and, right now, the Wellington Phoenix are swimming in them.

The 'Nix remain top of the A-League Men but saw their lead shaved to three points after a goalless affair against Perth Glory. It was a far cry from their last trip to Western Australia, a 0-0 snoozefest in polar contrast to January's 4-3 triumph.

But a shutout against the Glory is not to be sniffed at. Perth have been scoring goals for fun in recent weeks, with striker Adam Taggart in red-hot form. However, the 'Nix had the best chances of the game. Ben Old shattered the post while ex-Wellingtonian Oli Sail produced a wonderful save to keep out a powerful Oskar Zawada header - some redemption for his early season horror show on return to his nation's capital.

Now there's nothing wrong with settling for a point now and again. In 1982, Italian outfit Pisa earned promotion to Serie A on the back of 12 wins and 23 draws from their 38 league games. Meanwhile, closer to home, All Whites fans are always keen to remind people of New Zealand being the only unbeaten side at the 2010 World Cup - exiting at the Group Stage after draws with Slovakia (1-1), Italy (1-1) and Paraguay (0-0).

This was their third goalless game of the season and seventh draw in total, five of those coming in their last 10 games.

The Phoenix are pushing the boundaries of an acceptable amount of points shared to finish top of the A-League. Only two other teams have drawn more games and gone on to be crowned Premiers, Melbourne Victory with eight in 2014-15 and Brisbane Roar in 2010-11 with 11.

Too many draws can be punishing. In 2008, Red Star Belgrade went an entire Serbian season undefeated but drew 12 times, eventually finishing second to eternal rivals Partizan. A similar fate has befallen the likes of Benifca (1977-78) and Galatasaray (1985-86).

The 'Nix are struggling with a host of injuries and are currently doing their best to power through but with eight games left, some of those future draws need to become wins.

Although, finishing second would not be the end of the world, with a semi-final spot in the Finals Series the reward for both top-two spaces. And it is here where there lies an opportunity for draws to be their ally.

Because only two teams in the A-League like to finish equal more than the Phoenix at present, third-placed Melbourne Victory with 10 and fourth-placed Macarthur with eight.

Perhaps draws can lead the 'Nix to glory after all?

In other news:

Auckland's upcoming A-League men's team appears to have snagged a coup in the form of Melbourne Victory's [Jake Brimmer, with the set-piece specialist set to be a part of Bill Foley's new juggernaut next season. In entirely less surprising news, Marco Rojas will join him, after a brief dalliance with Brisbane comes to an end.

Liverpool have claimed the first real silverware of the English football season (sorry Arsenal fans, the Community Shield doesn't count and you know it). Jurgen Klopp's patched-together side overcame Chelsea's billion-pound bottle jobs 1-0 in the League Cup final as the German looks to sign off from Merseyside in style.

Finally, the pressures of a relegation battle got the better of two Sheffield United players this week. Jack Robinson and Vini Souza got in a classic game of head-nudge slappy-hands during their 1-0 defeat to Wolves. The Blades are bottom of the league and deserve a break but face the free-flowing Arsenal next week. It never rains, it pours.