Melbourne Victory playmaker Keisuke Honda struck from the penalty spot to salvage a 1-1 draw away to Wellington Phoenix in the Australian A-League on Friday night.

In his second game back from a hamstring injury, the 32-year-old former Japan star came on as a substitute 10 minutes after the break at Eden Park in Auckland.

(Keisuke Honda, right, during a macth between Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix)[Getty/Kyodo] 

He was quickly into the action, converting the 67th-minute penalty for his sixth goal of the season.

Fiji striker Roy Krishna had opened the scoring for the Phoenix, the sole New Zealand-based side in the competition, 12 minutes into the second half.

Victory midfielder Leigh Broxham earned the penalty when he was brought down inside the area. Former AC Milan and CSKA Moscow midfielder Honda sent Phoenix keeper Filip Kurto the wrong way as he fired into the top corner.

Following an impactful start to his A-League career, including October/November Player of the Month honors, Honda missed nine games with the hamstring injury.

He returned to action as a second-half substitute in the Victory's 2-1 loss to Perth Glory on Sunday.

The Victory are second in the A-League table after 19 games. They trail six points behind leaders Perth Glory, who have a game in hand.