Bitter rivals Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory shared the points in their first clash of v3 of the A-League at Hindmarsh Stadium on Friday night. The result continues the extraordinary run of draws in the A-League with only one team, Central Coast, having won any matches after two and half rounds.
Both teams went into the game missing several players due to Socceroo and Olyroo national team duty and injuries. Adelaide gave its first start to marquee striker Paul Agostino while Melbourne's pivotal captain Kevin Muscat was given permission to play with padding on his arm cast.
Melbourne kicked off the match and immediately put Adelaide under pressure. Adelaide survived a doubtful penalty scare before giving away its first corner in under a minute. Muscat got on the end of the corner but steered his header narrowly over the bar.
The first ten minutes belonged to Melbourne as Adelaide struggled to find any rhythm. After the slow start Adelaide slowly found its feet, began to settle into its passing game and the game tightened up.
Adelaide was dealt a major blow in the 20th minute when captain Michael Valkanis had to leave the field with what looked like a serious knee injury. Brazilian midfielder Diego replaced Valkanis with Costanzo moving into the midfield.
The two teams battled it out with goal scoring opportunities almost non existent. It took until the 30th minute for Adelaide to have its first decent shot on goal when Richie Alagich latched onto a header cleared to the edge of the box. Alagich hit a powerful first time volley that flew just over the crossbar.
Melbourne countered immediately. Caceres took a throw-in, picked up the return pass, beat two Adelaide players before striking his shot just wide of the upright. It was a great run that deserved a goal.
Five minutes later Adelaide's Diego picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box after a run by Nathan Burns. Diego hit a curling dipping shot that flew just over the cross bar.
Adelaide finished the half strongly making Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Theoklitos work hard without creating any clear opportunities. At half time the scoreline remained 0-0.
Adelaide came out in the second half and upped the tempo of the match with Melbourne dropping deeper into its half. With Melbourne under pressure the foul count began to accelerate. In the 48th minute Melbourne's captain Kevin Muscat was fortunate to remain on the park after bringing down Adelaide's Nathan Burns from behind. Already on a yellow, Muscat was treading on very thin ice.
Muscat rode his luck again in the 51st minute when he clattered Travis Dodd from behind. Fortunately for Muscat, or knowingly, the whistle had already blown for an earlier foul by Allsop on Diego. Otherwise Muscat may have been on his way.
Adelaide's first chance of second half fell to Richie Alagich. Brasilian Cassio put in a deep curling cross. Alagich arrived late in the box, met the cross after one bounce and smashed his volley over the crossbar.
Adelaide was dominating possession. Twenty minutes in the second half the possession count was 66% to Adelaide and 34% to Melbourne. But the possession statistics meant little with goal scoring opportunities almost non-existent.
In the 67th minute Kevin Muscat was at it again. He clumsily collided with Adelaide defender Cassio who was becoming increasingly prominent in the game. Cassio was subsequently substituted due to an injury sustained in the collision with Muscat. Muscat pleaded his innocence to an irate Adelaide coach Vidmar.
Melbourne fought its way back into the game putting the Adelaide defence under pressure. With the temperature rising Melbourne's Brebner earnt himself a yellow card when he deliberately collided with Costanzo behind play. Subsequently he was fortunate to remain on the park when he appeared to head but Costanzo. The match officials may have missed the incident but Brebner may be facing an A-League tribunal during the week.
In the 76th minute Diego crossed the ball from out wide picking up striker Agostino in the box. Agostino pulled away from his defenders, met the cross and flashed his header just wide of the post. It was the best goal scoring opportunity of the match so far.
While Adelaide was looking the likely to score it was Melbourne who hit the back of the net first. Caceres took a free kick out wide. He knocked the ball in deep to the back post. Adelaide goalkeeper Bajic came out for the cross, was caught flapping in the wind in no-mans land and could only watch as Vargas climbed unchallenged to head the ball home. A goalkeeper error handed the lead to Melbourne against the run of play.
Within a minute Vargas went from being hero to villain. Adelaide midfielder Diego cut inside with the ball, drifted to the edge of the box before shooting goal wards. The shot clearly struck Vargas on the arm leaving the referee with no option but to award a penalty to Adelaide. Travis Dodd stepped up to the penalty spot and struck a powerful penalty low and to the right. Theoklitos dived the right way but couldn't keep the shot out - the score was now level at 1-1.
The crowd urged Adelaide forward as they started to dominate the game. The momentum was with Adelaide and Melbourne were hanging on.
In the 90th minute Adelaide should have won the game. A great run by Erdogan down the right flank and a perfect cross found the head of an unmarked Nathan Burns. His header slammed into the cross bar from inside the 5 yard box. A minute later Dodd got onto the end of a cross from Alagich and put his header just narrowly wide of the upright.
The referee blew for full time with the scores level at 1-1.
Adelaide will be disappointed not to have taken the three points at home after dominating possession particularly in the second half. However it was a tight game with few goal scoring opportunities. The tightness of the match reflects the ultra competitive rivalry that has developed between these two sides and there is little to separate them. Melbourne Victory coach Ernie Merrick should be reasonably happy his side, missing several key players, has picked up a point from a very tough away trip.
Best for Adelaide was the hard working Salley in midfield, Alagich at the back and Diego from the substitutes bench. For Melbourne youngster Ryall had an excellent debut in defence, Caceres in midfield while Muscat gave another typical display of his undoubted natural ability combined with his infamous dark side.