Melbourne Victory Women have held Brisbane Roar to a 0-0 draw in the side’s relocated Westfield W-League match at Epping Stadium on Sunday.
Neither side managed to create a great deal of clear cut chances but after an even first half Victory did enough to cling on with the Roar surging home strongly.
Stephanie Catley had two of Melbourne’s best efforts after she burst through on goal but on each occasion she couldn’t find the target,
It was much the same for Brisbane with Tameka Butt, the two-goal hero in Brisbane’s 4-1 win over Melbourne last time, who huffed and puffed but couldn’t break the deadlock.
Both sides acknowledged a minute’s silence before kick off in memory of the Brisbane flood victims with the Roar’s home match at Perri Park moved to Melbourne as a result.
What followed was a largely uneventful opening to the game that had little of the goalmouth action from Brisbane’s resounding win last time the sides met.
Amy Chapman’s free-kick from 25 metres was the closest either side came in the opening quarter of the match, with her shot flying over the crossbar.
Caitlin Friend had a glorious chance to put Melbourne in front just two minutes later. She sprung the off-side trap as the Roar defence went to sleep, but with time on her side she flashed her shot agonisingly wide of the post.
A moment later Lauren Colthorpe saw a similar effort flash wide as the game begun to open up. Catley was looking dangerous with her pace on the left for Victory while Butt was influential as usual and in everything for the Roar.
A mistake early in the second half from defender Marlies Oostdam nearly let Butt in to score but as was the trend, she played one too many passes and then fluffed her shot.
The game was still evenly poised with neither side able to capitalise on the few chances that were on offer.
Nearing the hour mark and league leaders Brisbane began to turn the screw.
Butt was finding space in the middle and had a couple of chances go begging either side of Catley’s scuffed shot for Melbourne.
There were few more openings for either side with Catley’s tackle on substitute Emily Gielnik saving what would have been a certain goal with five minutes remaining.
In the end, it was a valuable point for Melbourne who made the most of their impromptu home game against their more fancied opponents
Brisbane Roar: 0
Melbourne Victory: 0
