A 10 men Sydney FC grinded out a 0-0 draw at Docklands in a much-anticipated match. However both teams did not make the most of their chances, and after the sending off of Mark Bridge, the match came to a halt like a freight train.
One of the highlights of the match came when the newly signed Ante Covic made a massive save from a Brett Emerton penalty in the 33rd minute. Emerton was quite square when taking the kick and Covic went left early, saving the low shot. The crowd went into rapture. The penalty came about after Mark Bridge turned Fabio every which way, and Fabio's only option was to tackle him like Rocky Elsom in the box. Peter Green issued a yellow card for the indiscretion.
The next dramatic turn again involved Mark Bridge. In the 72nd minute, after an eternity was taken for a Melbourne free kick 28 yards out, Roddy Vargos went to make a run and push off Bridge. Bridge decided that he needed a short little right to smarten him up. Vargas went down and the referee issued Bridge with a Red. Handbags at nine passes ensued.
Sydney had the running in the first half, carving the Victory defence straight though the middle. The only reason Melbourne remained in the contest was because of the handy work of Covic. Covic made a bulk of saves after Melbourne's leaky defence was opened up by Sydney's frontline. Archie Thompson for the Victory was the most dangerous player, using Jamie Coyne as a witch's hat on many occasions.
Late in the first half, superstar Harry Kewell had his first chance, with a header to make Reddy stretch to his limit after a cross by Celeski. A handball in the dying seconds from Scott Jamieson, gave the Victory one last chance before the last whistle for the first half.
As Archie Thompson found open field in the 59th minute, Michael Beauchamp swopped in and left half of his studs in Thompson's left shin. This resulted in a free kick and referee Green having no option but to issue a yellow card. Minutes later Thompson was subsitituted, requiring stitches in his shin. He could miss up to two weeks.
Kewell's second chance of the match come after great attacking play from Marcos Rojas on the right hand side. He beat two Sydney players and created space for Kewell, whose shot went high to the right.
A chance late in the game from a beautiful skilful display from Solorzano saw him create space behind the defence with a lovely through ball by Kewell. Reddy came to the rescue with a save by his left boot.
Brett Emerton didn't give a performance to remember, missing a penalty and having little influence over the game. Harry Kewell played the full 90 minutes and had some chances late in the game.