In a potential prelude of a playoffs meeting later this season, the Victory took a 2-0 lead into the 70-minute mark through Mata and new recruit Charles Nduka before the Sky Blues hit back twice in three minutes to secure an important draw that kept them four points ahead of Mata's side, who are now five games unbeaten (W2, D3) thanks to his recent heroics.
Mata scored his fourth goal of the league season to go with ten assists in just 20 appearances, again finishing a full 90 minutes after carrying a knock through last Friday's 1-1 draw against Adelaide United.
It was a fourth successive A-League game with a goal and/or assist for the Spanish legend, who was January's Player of the Month and is now a standout favourite to claim the Johnny Warren Medal for season MVP.
Only two weeks after Mata produced his most iconic A-League moment with a long range goal against Melbourne City, he has almost certainly topped it with a Goal of the Season contender.
Mata's ten assists for the season is almost twice as many as any other player, with Newcastle's Daniel Wilmering coming in next best at time of publication with six.
"Unfortunately they (Sydney) had five to ten minutes of madness when they scored two and were well on top - they probably could have scored one or two more goals," Mata said after the game.
"At least we took a point. Bittersweet, because when you're up 2-0 that late, you feel so close to winning."
"It's not about who was not here (because of injuries). I think it's a day to be proud of. The ones who were here tried their best.
Mata's 23-year-old teammate Keegan Jelacic lined up alongside the Spaniard to potentially take the 34th-minute free kick, prompting Mata to joke that Jelacic "probably knew that he had no chance".
"Before the game I received a message from (teammate) Louis D'Arrigo, a great player and great friend who is injured unfortunately, and he said 'you're going to score from a free kick today'. He was right!"
The next of Melbourne Victory's six remaining games in the regular season takes place next Sunday against out-of-form Macarthur FC.