Melbourne Victory have spurned a golden opportunity to close the gap on the A-League Men top two, held to a dour 0-0 draw by a disciplined Brisbane Roar.
Victory are now 10 games unbeaten but remain three points behind Western United and 11 behind Melbourne City after Tuesday’s stalemate at AAMI Park.
Meanwhile, the Roar’s faint finals hopes are all but extinguished, with Brisbane sitting eight points outside the top six with five games to play.
Ben Folami fired wide in the opening minute, then almost teed up a stretching Marco Rojas, who couldn’t quite reach the winger’s cross, four minutes later.
Victory had a series of shots blocked in the 17th minute but from there, Brisbane had the better of the rare chances in a dour first half.
Out of nowhere in the 23rd minute, Juan Lescano found some space, turned and shot, forcing Ivan Kelava into a good save.
In the 45th minute, the ball ricocheted around Brisbane’s 18-yard area and fell to Scott Neville, who just shot wide.
Jason Davidson was busy all night and in the 65th minute, he burst down the left and worked the ball into the area, where it fell to an off-balance Nick D’Agostino, who shot straight at Jordan Holmes.
Nine minutes later, Rojas drove the ball towards Chris Ikonomidis, who headed wide.
In the 82nd minute, Jason Geria spared Victory’s blushes when he made a terrific well-timed tackle to deny Luke Ivanovic.
Two minutes later, Neville turned a free header, from Jay O’Shea’s corner, just wide.
In the 89th minute, there were concerns for Victory midfielder Jake Brimmer, who had to be substituted out after a friendly fire clash with Davidson, as the game petered out.
Victory next face Newcastle on Saturday while Brisbane play Macarthur on Friday.
RE-LIVE: MELBOURNE VICTORY 0-0 BRISBANE ROAR, AS IT HAPPENED
By Matt Comito for KEEPUP
82′: Crucial Geria tackle ‘saves the day’ for Victory (0-0)
“That is almost a match-saving challenge,” said Paramount+ co-commentator Phil Moss as Jason Geria got back to haul himself in front of Henry Hore as he looked to dispatch a shot on goal from a dangerous position in Brisbane’s attacking penalty area.
74′: CHANCE! D’Agostino heads wide (0-0)
Marco Rojas found D’Agostino leaping in the middle of the box to meet his floated delivery, and the resulting header flashes wide of the left-hand goalpost.
66′: CHANCES! D’Agostino goes close for the hosts (0-0)
A Jason Davidson cross into the six-yard box wasn’t cleared effectively by the Roar; the ball fell to Nick D’Agostino in the box whose strike back on goal was gathered by Brisbane keeper Jordan Holmes.
HALF-TIME: VICTORY 0-0 ROAR
Plenty of chances but no goals for either side throughout a goalless first half.
45′: CHANCE! Neville volley threatens to break deadlock (0-0)
Brisbane are finishing the first half with a flurry.
Jez Lofthouse saw his close-range attempt blocked by a Victory defender from close range before Scott Neville’s attempt off the left side of the 18-yard-box fizzed past the right-hand goalpost.
18′: Victory peppering Brisbane’s goal (0-0)
A series of quick-fire strikes from Ben Folami, Marco Rojas and Rai Marchan turned up the pressure on Brisbane’s defence as the hosts look to gain an early advantage.
1′: KICK-OFF (0-0)
We’re underway at AAMI Park!
