Nothing has been able to separate A-League Men title contenders Auckland FC and Melbourne Victory in their New Year’s Day clash, with the two playing out a scoreless stalemate at Mt Smart Stadium.
Unsurprisingly given the two entered the contest as the Australian top flight’s most defensively stout units and were coming off a short turnaround, clear-cut chances proved difficult to come on Wednesday afternoon as the two heavyweights shared the spoils in front of 14,997 fans.
Five points clear of second-placed Adelaide United and the Victory with the result, it guarantees Auckland will remain atop the league as they observe a bye this week.
Though still looking for their first win since Patrick Kisnorbo quit as coach, Victory bounced back from their 3-0 weekend loss to Sydney and will now turn their focus to a visit from Western Sydney this Sunday.
“It's a point better than the last game,” Victory skipper Roderick Miranda told Sky Sport.
“We improved from the last game and we didn't concede any goals, so let's build up on that.”
Starting strongly, the Kiwi club almost led after six minutes when Neyder Moreno picked out Francis De Vries from a corner at the back post and he sent a bullet header right onto the forehead of Victory goalkeeper Jack Duncan.
"Keeper still doesn't know where it hit him on the head," Auckland boss Steve Corica joked post-game.
“That was probably our best chance.”
Victory grew into the game and flashed danger 19th minutes in when Reno Piscopo had a shot deflect over the bar.
Daniel Arzani and Jason Geria twice combined on the right flank to spring the latter into space to shoot but neither of the right back’s attempts troubled keeper Alex Paulsen, the first going wide and the second tepidly hit straight at him.
Guillermo May had a goal disallowed for offside moments after the re-start as Auckland started the second half as strongly as they had the first.
They had the Victory scrambling after forcing a high turnover in the 49th minute but failed to get a shot off.
The hosts finished the stronger of the sides but substitute Nishan Velupillay nonetheless almost gave the Victory the last word, only to bend his added-time attempt just wide.
“It was a very evenly contested match, probably a fair result a draw,” Auckland’s Tommy Smith told Sky Sport.
