Sydney FC have blown a chance to eat into Melbourne City’s lead at the top of the A-League Women after being held to a 1-1 draw by Melbourne Victory.
The Sky Blues - reigning premiers and champions - are six points adrift of City after Friday’s stalemate at AAMI Park.
The visitors had an early lead courtesy of a goal from Maddie Caspers but that was all undone when Victory’s Rachel Lowe levelled from the penalty spot midway through the first half.
Sydney went ahead following a trademark burst forward from Cortnee Vine in the seventh minute.
As the Matildas winger weaved into the Victory box, Kayla Morrison stepped in to halt the attack but was unable to effectively get the ball to safety.
Her miscued clearance fell into the path of 16-year-old Caspers, who finished past Courtney Newbon for her second goal in as many games.
Sydney’s advantage lasted just 13 minutes, when a ball was swung into the Sky Blues’ box and goalkeeper Jada Whyman clattered into Victory forward McKenzie Weinert to give away a penalty.
Lowe, playing against her former club for the first time, stepped up to the spot and sent Whyman the wrong way to draw Victory level.
Sydney’s defence thwarted the hosts at every turn in open play and, barring Lowe’s penalty, the home side didn’t have a shot on target until the 89th minute.
But the Sky Blues couldn’t fashion the winner which would have helped them make more ground on City, who lost to Western United on Thursday.
The closest opportunity fell to Abbey Lemon when Morrison was hounded off the ball by Vine deep in Victory’s half.
Lemon was played in on goal but Morrison showed great fight to get back and block her close-range shot.
