''It was an unlucky drawn result for us ...we could have won,'' Southern coach Kevin Scoullar said.
''But it's still not a bad start against a side tipped to win the competition, and which was unbeaten last season in winning its third championship.''
Southern might have scored twice from attacks that featured Lewis Jackson in the first 20 minutes, and the team continued a passing game out of defence that gave the Auckland side problems.
The second half favoured Auckland, but resolute defence by the backline of Tyrell Barringer-Tahiri, Mitchell Carter, Keegan Taig and Matt Mitchell thwarted the home team.
''We knew it was going to be hard but, on balance, we had the better of the match,'' assistant coach Richard Kerr-Bell said.
Another happy man was Mike Fridge, whose Southern senior side had an 8-0 win over a Southland Selection in a pre-season match in Invercargill on Saturday.
The return of French midfielder Victor Da Costa to the Southern squad was a bonus, and both he and United's other new signing, Chilean Eder Franchini, defied extreme winter conditions to impress the crowd.
Southland was rocked prior to the game with news that its new area coach, John McLelland, is to return to the United States in a few weeks.
In his place, former national league goalkeeper Chris Marsh coached the Southland side, which was possibly a yard slower than United due to lack of training and preparation.
Fridge was pleased with his team's attitude against a Southland team that did not give in.
''I had Taylor McCormack, Tom Jackson and Cam Attwood watching from the bench, since they have slight niggling injuries,'' he said.
''I was pleased that the team on the park gave 100%, and there were several very good performances.''
Midfielder Andrew Ridden did well at centreback, filling in for the unavailable Matt Joy.
Southern United has one more warm-up game, against Canterbury United in Timaru, before its opening ASB Premiership game against Auckland in Dunedin on October 25.
