Honours even in the Melbourne Derby but Victory equal a record

At the Home of the Matildas, Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City, rivals in the Liberty A-League, drew goalless despite two rattles of the woodwork by neither side.

Victory had the best chance to break the deadlock in a first half devoid of clear-cut opportunities, but defender Jamilla Rankin’s strong shot on Sunday bounced back against the crossbar and away to safety.

After being dangerous in the first half, City attacker Emina Ekic struck the woodwork shortly after the break. However, Round 20 ended all square as neither team was able to score a decisive goal.

City now sits third in the Liberty A-League standings after the outcome, with Victory in fifth place, three points ahead of Western Sydney Wanderers in sixth.

Victory’s nine-game winning streak (W5 D4) after the draw ties the club record set from November 2013 to January 2014 in the Liberty A-League.

Following a cautious opening, the visitors created the game’s first meaningful opportunity when winger Ekic raced down the City left side and fired a pass across goal, just missing the far post by the narrowest of margins.

In the 33rd minute, Matildas forward Emily Gielnik was unleashed down the left hand side and had Victory’s best chance of the first half; however, her shot went over the bar from a tight angle.

In the 43rd minute, Rankin was inches away from giving Victory the lead when a City clearing landed to him on the edge of the box. He controlled the ball with one touch before dipping his attempt towards goal, but it struck the crossbar.

After her teammates robbed Victory of the ball on the edge of their own box, Ekic’s powerful effort rattled the woodwork in the 50th minute as City surged out of the blocks in the second half and nearly took the lead.

Dario Vidosic’s City were then inches away from breaking the deadlock in the 60th minute but Ekic’s low, drilled effort flew past the far post and away from striker Hannah Wilkinson who didn’t gamble on the shot