The woodwork was rattled twice but neither side were able to break the deadlock in a goalless draw between Liberty A-League rivals Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City at the Home of the Matildas.
In a first half short on clear-cut chances, it was Victory who came closest to breaking the deadlock but defender Jamilla Rankin’s powerful effort crashed back off the cross bar and away to safety on Sunday.
After looking dangerous in the first half, City forward Emina Ekic then hit the woodwork soon after half-time but neither side were able to land a knockout blow as it finished all square in Round 20.
The result leaves City third in the Liberty A-League ladder, while Victory are fifth, three points clear of Western Sydney Wanderers in sixth place.
With the draw, Victory are now nine matches unbeaten (W5 D4), equalling the club’s longest undefeated streak in the Liberty A-League from November 2013 to January 2014.
After what was a cagey start it was the visitors who fashioned the first real chance of the game; winger Ekic racing down the City left hand side before firing a ball across goal, with the smallest of deflections ensuring the ball trickled past the far post.
Matildas forward Emily Gielnik had Victory’s first chance of the first half in the 33rd minute after she was released down the left hand side but fired her shot over the bar from a tight angle.
Victory were then inches away from taking the lead in the 43rd minute as a City clearance fell straight to Rankin on the edge of the box who took one touch to control before sending a dipping effort towards goal which cannoned back off the crossbar.
City came flying out of the blocks in the second half and almost took the lead in the 50th minute but Ekic’s powerful effort rattled the woodwork after her teammates robbed Victory of the ball on the edge of their own box.
Dario Vidosic’s City were then inches away from breaking the deadlock in the 60th minute but Ekic’s low, drilled effort flew past the far post and away from striker Hannah Wilkinson who didn’t gamble on the shot.
Gielnik then saw a glancing header in the 89th minute flash wide of the far post as both sides were forced to settle for a draw which consolidates their spots within the Liberty A-League’s top six.
