O-League debutants AS Magenta have held New Zealand powerhouse Waitakere United to a 1-1 draw at Noumea's Stade Numa Daly in the final match of the opening round.

The New Caledonians were forced to come from behind to claim a share of the points in a result which leaves FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009 participants Auckland City two points clear at the top of Group A after the first round of matches.

The home side equalised with 12 minutes remaining when United defender Aaron Scott headed into his own net to cancel out Brent Fisher's first-half strike. Moments earlier Fijian speedster Roy Krishna had been shown a red card leaving the visitors with 10 men.

United, who won the O-League title in 2007 and 2008, will now have to play catch up after cross-town rivals and defending champions Auckland City beat Tahiti's AS Manu Ura 5-0 at home last weekend. 

United and Magenta now sit second equal in Group A behind Auckland City, while Fiji's Lautoka are top of Group B ahead of Papua New Guinea's Hekari United, Vanuatu's Tafea and Solomon Islands' Marist.