Perth Glory has fought out its third consecutive scoreless draw of the 2007/08 Hyundai A-League campaign with a 0-0 stalemate against Sydney FC at Members Equity Stadium on Sunday.
The Glory dominated the midfield battle and set up numerous chances throughout the afternoon but struggled to find the finishing touch, with Sydney's steadfast defence coping brilliantly under the pressure.
Sydney striker David Zdrilic also spurned several chances to win it for the visitors, with Perth keeper Tommi Tomich and his opposite number Matthew Nash enjoying quiet days in between the posts.
Both sides entered the match without a host of stars due to injury and international duties.
Sydney was without star Brazilian recruit Juninho (shoulder), striker Alex Brosque, goalkeeper Clint Bolton, defender Ruben Zadkovich and midfielder Mark Milligan, while the Glory were missing skipper Simon Colosimo, midfielder Billy Celeski, Stan Lazaridis, Hayden Foxe, David Tarka and Nikolai Topor-Stanley among others.
Chances were few and far between during the opening 15 minutes of the contest as both sides took time to work their way into the match.
It took 18 minutes for the first genuine chance to arrive, but Glory striker Mate Dragicevic failed to capitalise on a dangerous cross from Anthony Danze and managed to kick nothing but air with his swinging boot.
Zdrilic almost put Sydney ahead just two minutes later when he headed a Steve Corica cross past Tomich, who had charged off his line in an attempt to clear the ball, but fortunately for the Glory, Zdrilic's header drifted just inches wide of the target.
Danze and Nick Rizzo both tried their luck from outside the box but to no avail, while Sydney's Adam Casey also saw his long-range strike veer harmlessly wide of the target.
Sydney's Brazilian striker Patrick struggled for space in the opening half and vented his frustration with a double-footed challenge on Rizzo, earning him a yellow card. Defender Iain Fyfe also received a yellow card in the first half.
The second half was a dour defensive struggle as both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances on goal.
Perth's Leo Bertos continued to cause all sorts of damage down the right wing but his dangerous crosses went to waste time and again, while Zdrilic wasted a number of chances that fell his way.
Jordan Simpson appeared set to bang home the winner for the home side in the 84th minute when his one-two pass with Naum Sekulovski freed him inside the box with just the keeper to beat. However, the lanky midfielder struck his volley wide from just six yards out.
The Glory continued to push for the winner in the dying minutes with Sekulovski and Simpson working overtime, but Sydney's defence held firm to earn the visitors their second point of the season.
Amazingly, only Central Coast (three wins) and Newcastle (one win) have tasted victory after three rounds of football, with eight draws recorded from 12 games.
Perth 0
Sydney 0
Crowd: 7,907 @ Members Equity Stadium