Perth Glory were forced to settle for a share of the spoils as a stoic Melbourne City battled to a 0-0 draw at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
Florin Berenguer and Andy Keogh threatened either side of half-time but chances were scant and the hosts – beaten 2-1 by Central Coast Mariners last time out – appeared content to halt the Hyundai A-League leaders’ four-match winning run.
Jason Davidson failed to tuck away a gilt-edged chance to extend that streak late in proceedings with Glory ultimately banking a point that takes them four clear at the top, while City are two shy of third-placed Sydney FC.
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Perth did much of the meaningful early probing with Neil Kilkenny and Davidson both trying their luck inside 20 minutes.
The best opportunity of a tightly contested first half fell to French midfielder Berenguer who produced only an air swing after being found in a promising position by Ritchie De Laet.
There was time left before the break for Keogh to force Harrison Delbridge into a crucial block in the box and the same two players were involved in another important moment just prior to the hour.
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Kilkenny played his striker through on goal but defender Delbridge came from nowhere to produce a perfectly timed last-ditch sliding challenge.
City, having mirrored Glory’s trademark three-man defence from the outset, almost saw their circumspect approach came unstuck in the 82nd minute.
Eugene Galekovic used his legs to deny Keogh in a one-on-one and wing-back Davidson blazed over a right-footed follow-up that should have broken the deadlock.
Scott Jamieson then skimmed a wayward cross along the top of the bar in a rare moment of alarm for Tony Popovic’s team, who encountered few other scares and remain unbeaten away from home.