Melbourne Victory was held to yet another draw in the Isuzu UTE A-League, playing out a 1-1 result against the Western Sydney Wanderers.
Summary
Victory drew a fourth consecutive league match 1-1 as it was again left to rue missed chances at AAMI Park on Sunday.
After Roderick Miranda was sent off late, Jason Davidson opened the scoring in additional time, but Steven Ugarkovic levelled from the penalty spot in the 96th minute.
Victory looked lively early and created good opportunities in the opening minutes.
After hard work from Nishan Velupillay, Jake Brimmer played in Francesco Margiotta, who was denied in a one-on-one by Wanderers goalkeeper Daniel Margush.
Margush was called into action again in the eighth minute, making a save from Davidson’s effort from an angle.
Victory continued to look the more dangerous of the two teams and Marco Rojas fired just wide from 20 yards, cutting in from the right after a pass from Margiotta six minutes prior to half-time.
The host kept pushing as the first half was nearing a close, with Brimmer curling just wide from 20 yards after a touch into his path by Margiotta.
Just eight minutes into the second half and Victory had another good chance, but Margush denied Rojas on the follow up after parrying Jason Geria’s initial effort.
Victory goalkeeper Matt Acton was forced into his first save approaching the hour-mark, comfortably holding onto Tate Russell’s powerful drive.
Brendan Hamill, who scored against Western United on Wednesday, was denied with 12 minutes remaining as Victory continued to search for a breakthrough.
Another chance went begging with three minutes left as substitute Lleyton Brooks directed his shot straight at Margush from the edge of the area.
Victory finished the encounter with 10 men as Roderick was sent off for a sliding challenge.
But after Chris Ikonomidis was denied by Margush, Victory struck as Davidson powered a finish into the roof of the net from an angle after playing a one-two with Brimmer from a corner.
Western Sydney levelled in the sixth minute of additional time, though, Ugarkovic converting a penalty after a Hamill handball in the area.
Key moment
Player in focus
Velupillay produced an energetic performance. The winger caused plenty of problems before coming off shortly after the hour-mark.
Implications
Victory was held to yet another draw in the Isuzu UTE A-League. It climbed into fourth on the table.
Result
Isuzu UTE A-League 2021/22 Round 20
Melbourne Victory 1 (Jason Davidson 90+1′)
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Steven Ugarkovic 90+6′ pen)
Melbourne Victory: Acton (gk); Geria (Nigro 84′), Hamill, Roderick, Davidson; Brillante (c) (Kirdar 81′), Broxham (Marchan 62′); Rojas, Brimmer, Velupillay (Ikonomidis 62′); Margiotta (Brooks 81′).
Western Sydney Wanderers: Margush (gk); Russell, Mrcela (c), Cancar, Aquilina (Traore 90+2′); Antonis (Troisi 62′), Baccus, Ugarkovic; Ibini (Rodwell 90+2′), Najjarine (Carluccio 11′), Ogawa.
Yellow cards: Hamill 68′, Ugarkovic 79′
Red cards: Roderick 89′
Attendance: TBA
Venue: AAMI Park
Next up
Victory makes the trip to Coopers Stadium to face Adelaide United on Saturday.
