Adelaide United has scored a late equaliser to take a point from Melbourne thanks to Fabian Barbiero.
Hosts Victory made one change from their defeat to Newcastle last week with Matthew Foschini returning from suspension to replace Marco Rojas. Adelaide made three changes from their smashing from Central Coast Mariners with Daniel Mullen, Nigel Boogaard and Sergio Van Dijk in for Milan Susak, Cameron Watson and Ricardo Da Silva.
Victory started off on the front foot through Harry Kewell who was played in by Archie Thompson before shooting straight at Eugene Galekovic in goal for Adelaide. However the referee pulled the ball back for a free-kick and Carlos Hernandez's ball was spilled by Galekovic before Adrian Leijer's shot was saved by a closing Galekovic.
Adelaide couldn't create any chances until on 23 minutes when Iain Ramsay put in a beautiful cross but Zenon Caravella couldn't control. The ball fell for Fabian Barbiero who blasted the ball over. Three minutes later Harry Kewell, who was back after being rested against LA Galaxy, headed over from Matt Foschini's great cross.
The game started to fire up with Kewell and Caravella starting a melee. Only a minute later Fabian Barbiero was carded after a high arm into the face of Broxham.
The game didn't offer anything until first-half stoppage time when Nigel Boogaard missed an easy header. Kewell was in one-on-one and as he saw Galekovic off his line he chipped the ‘keeper but Galekovic pulled out a magnificent save to tip wide.
Six minutes into the second-half Adelaide created the half's first chance with Daniel Mullen crossing for Barbiero whose header was direction straight at Covic for an easy save.
On 59 minutes Archie Thompson opened the scoring with a header past Galekovic after Fabio's great cross. Thompson's fourth of the season.
Three minutes later Harry Kewell could have made it 2-0 but his first-time shot went wide after Hernandez's great long ball.
Although Victory had the momentum Brue Djite turned well in the opposition box before his left footed strike sailed into the stands.
On 67 minutes Thompson could have doubled the lead but his right footed shot was saved fantastically by Galekovic.
On 82 minutes Adelaide had an equaliser through Fabian Barbiero. A well made move which included Van Dijk and Caravella was well finished in the bottom corner by the midfielder.
Only one minute later Victory were right up the other end with substitute Marco Rojas whose low ball found Kewell at the far post, however Kewell's finish was cleared off the line by Cameron Watson.
Two minutes into stoppage time Grant Brebner could have won it after Kewell hit a low ball across the six yard box but the Scottish midfielder couldn't connect. It finished 1-1.
Victory remains in eighth with Adelaide remaining in ninth. A game both sides needed to win.
Victory coach Mehmet Durakovic was disappointed. "It was disappointing having created lots of chances and we played them off the park and dominated possession. We had a lot of chances and they had one shot and they scored and that is Football. At least the boys are playing the Football that I want them to and thought they deserved more than a point."
Adelaide coach Rini Coolen was pleased to at least go home with a point. "We would prefer to win games of course but with the situation where we come from the last few weeks and the players we had available for our 4-3-2-1 system we did as good as we could."