Western United and Melbourne City produced an A-League Men game of the season contender in a spirited 2-2 draw between the top two teams at AAMI Park on Saturday afternoon.
Western took a two-goal lead on the half-hour mark with Leo Lacroix and Rene Krhin on target before City staged a furious fightback to earn a point with Connor Metcalfe and Jamie Maclaren responding in the Victorian derby.
If anything, defending Isuzu UTE A-League champions City will rue two dropped points after having multiple efforts cleared off the line and a host of chances denied.
Football can sometimes be a game of inches as City cruelly found out when Andrew Nabbout watched on as his 14th-minute effort was cleared off the line by Josh Risdon.
United promptly marched up the other end, won a corner, and went ahead when Lacroix glanced a header in at the near post.
The hosts doubled the margin when Dylan Pierias broke down the right, cut inside marker Scott Jamieson and played in a cross that Krhin drove home first-time.
Facing off against the league’s best defence, the task ahead of City appeared a tall one – but they’re the competition’s best attack for a reason.
The deficit was halved just before half-time when Marco Tilio paused to open up a crossing angle and found Metcalfe for a sweet finish.
Inches again haunted City when just after half-time Curtis Good poked a shot goalward after a scramble in the box only for Lacroix to clear it away.
City refused to give in and they finally rewarded in the 66th when Nuno Reis broke up a Western attack and quickly sprung Maclaren in behind the defence for his 12th goal of the campaign.
Retaining top-spot via goal difference, City will now prepare to meet Melbourne Victory next Saturday.
Western, level on points with City but with two games in hand, travel to face Sydney FC at the same time as the Melbourne derby.
