Bottom side Melbourne Victory have provided a major shock by holding National Youth League leaders Perth Glory to a 0-0 draw at 6PR Stadium on Sunday.
Victory goalkeeper Tando Velaphi saved Brandon O’Neill’s penalty, helping the visitors take just their fourth point for the season as Perth failed to win for just the fifth time from 12 games.
Velaphi, on the comeback trail from a broken leg he suffered in pre-season, had little else to do for most of the game though as Melbourne had the bulk of the chances against his former side in a performance which defied their lowly position.
The Victory regularly troubled an under-strength Perth side, while having what would have been the winning goal from Luc Jeggo disallowed for offside in the 92nd minute.
Gareth Naven’s team’s inability to take the three points against an impressive Melbourne side saw them waste the opportunity to consolidate their spot at the top of the ladder.
Perth also finished the match with 10 men after Storm Roux was given his marching orders in the 93rd minute.
The visitors created several early chances, with Neil Young – also in the midst of a return from long-term injury – coming off his line to break down a dangerous Melbourne counter-attack before James Jeggo shot just wide following a Luke O’Dea cutback.
Once again they came close to getting their reward when Nicholas Ansell drifted free and headed across goal but Glory skipper Sam Mitchinson cleared it off the line.
Despite being outplayed for much of the half, Glory should have taken the lead just before the break when Adam Nakic’s tackle was controversially adjudged to have brought down Ndumba Makeche just inside the box
But Velaphi, who spent four seasons with Perth, did brilliantly diving low to his right to keep O’Neill’s penalty out.
Darren Davies’ side came within inches of taking the lead in the 52nd minute as Kwabene Boahene’s cross sailed just out of the reach of Hernan Espindola, who was two yards out from an open goal.
Makeche was played through with 18 minutes left but was forced onto a bad angle, allowing Velaphi to make the save.
Shortly after the disallowed goal, a bad tackle led to a heated exchange between the two sides and Roux received the red card.
