Adelaide United have held Jim Magilton's Melbourne Victory to a 1-1 draw at AAMI Park on Friday night. Despite falling behind John Kosmina's side were able to fight back to collect a point.
In Jim Magilton's first game as Victory manager he makes one change from last week's defeat of Newcastle Jets with Adrian Leijer coming back from injury to replace Petar Franjic. Adelaide boss John Kosmina also makes one change with Osama Malik replacing Francisco Usucar.
The hosts created the first chance on 5 minutes when Harry Kewell played in Archie Thompson whose shot was deflected onto the post by Eugene Galekovic in goals.
Only a minute later the same combination resulted in the opening goal. Kewell did brilliantly to beat Zenon Caravella and Cameron Watson before crossing to Thompson who beat Antony Golec to tap home, Thompson's seventh of the season.
Adelaide dominated possession for the next 15 minutes before Thompson played a first-time chip to Carlos Hernandez whose volley went just wide.
Four minutes later Kewell was showing some great form when he played in Danny Allsopp whose strike was put into the side netting. However a corner was given and with the resulting corner Leijer's strike was blocked off the line by an Adelaide defender before being cleared.
On 35 minutes Hernandez played Thompson in and the forward poked his effort past Galekovic but Daniel Mullen recovered to clear off the line as the ball trickled towards the net.
Two minutes into the second-half Hernandez put in a great ball which was deflected towards goal but Galekovic pulled off a fantastic save.
Danny Allsopp was next to try his chances after a brilliant cross from Kewell but Allsopp's diving header was put wide.
On 53 minutes Adelaide scored an equaliser. Nigel Boogaard flicked a Dario Vidosic corner onto the crossbar before Sergio van Dijk finished at the far post to score against Victory once again. This game becomes the tenth straight game which Victory hasn't been able to keep a clean sheet.
On 69 minutes Kewell almost scored goal of the season when he received the ball on the right and beat a couple of defenders before cutting onto his left foot and shooting a powerful strike. Unfortunately for the Socceroo the ball smashed off the crossbar.
Five minutes later second-half substitute Jean-Carlos Solorzano cut in from the left before passing a great ball through to Thompson but the experienced forward couldn't control the ball.
On 80 minutes the Reds had two chances in a minute when Vidosic was in possession but his strike was saved well by Covic. Covic then denied Djite after the former Gold Coast United striker turned and shot straight at the 'keeper.
Four minute later Leijer come up for a Kewell free-kick but his subsequent header was deflected. The captain then couldn't get a proper connection on the resulting corner.
On 86 minutes van Dijk turned on the edge of the box but his shot was scuffed wide without testing Covic.
Two minutes later Adelaide could have snatched it when Vidosic put in a brilliant corner but Boogaard's header sailed just wide of the upright.
Adelaide looked happy to hold on for the draw with an attacking option with Iain Ramsay not used off the bench. Kosmina keeps his undefeated record in his second spell of Adelaide United boss whereas Magilton starts off with a draw.
New Melbourne Victory coach Jim Magilton was pleased with his side's performance despite the result. "I think we were dominant in the first-half, I think if we took our chances we probably would have won the game comfortably but credit to them to come back at us and cause a few problems second-half. But all in all I am pleased with our overall performance."
Adelaide United boss John Kosmina though a draw was a fair result. "You always want to have a win but by the same token Melbourne hit the bar, they hit the post Eugene [Galekovic] made a good save in the first-half as well, maybe 2. So maybe a draw was a fair result but I am happy with the progression we have made week by week."