Stalemate at the Dome

Perth has held defending Hyundai A-League champion Melbourne to a 0-0 draw in front of 31,545 fans at Telstra Dome.

In a game of few genuine chances, the Glory produced the better football, but a stoic Victory defence didn't allow the visitors to provoke a serious save from Michael Theoklitos until late in the match. The Melbourne custodian was up to Mate Dragicevic's effort and the teams both went home with their second draws of the season.

Melbourne coach Ernie Merrick said that while a draw was a fair result, the Victory had set their standard higher than they had shown in this match.

"It's not acceptable from the point of view that we want to win every week. We knew it would be a tough year, and it was a different Perth that came at us this year," he said. "We could have stolen it at the end."

Ron Smith was happy that his men had stuck to their task, but said there was still considerable room for improvement.

"There were some things about tonight's game that I wasn't happy about, but that's normal. I don't think anyone comes off after a match like that and feel like they've cracked it. I've liked us to have a little bit more composure," he said. "It was a little bit better than last week."

Melbourne had the best of the early chances, with Joseph Keenan's first-minute cross cleared by Simon Colosimo, while Archie Thompson zig-zagged his way into the box, only to let himself down with the finish.

Up the other end, Dragicevic's strength was causing some headaches among the home defence, as was an early injury to Keenan, who departed for Matthew Kemp inside ten minutes clutching his hamstring.

Carlos Hernandez put Grant Brebner through for an excellent opportunity which the Scot could only knock wide in the 16th minute.

The Glory began applying more pressure with Dragicevic heading Nikolai Topor-Stanley's cross over the bar shortly before Steve Pantelidis' ill-advised challenge on Naum Sekulovski prompted a caution from referee Peter O'Leary, who also booked Hernandez later in the half.

Thompson was struggling after an early knock to his troublesome knee, but twice he delivered crosses which just missed their targets. He also managed to go within inches of a spectacular goal on 35 minutes, juggling the ball over Colosimo's shoulder twice, but lobbing his eventual shot over.

Leo Bertos squandered two chances late in the half, hitting one over the bar and one straight at Theoklitos. Those two efforts summed up the first 45 minutes from both teams. Plenty of promise, but no polish, and it was 0-0 at the break.

Both sides subbed players at the break, Hernandez off for Kaz Patafta while Perth brought on Anthony Danze for Sekulovski.

Billy Celeski was heavily involved in Perth attacking moves in the first ten minutes of the second half, but concerted pressure from the Glory prompted only good defence from the Victory and an acrobatic save from Theoklitos.

Nikita Rukavytsya then had two chances either side of the hour mark, knocking wide with his head before a shot with his foot was blocked by some more desperate defence. Ron Smith would replace him with Nick Rizzo while Pantelidis departed for Leandro Love in an attacking move from Ernie Merrick.

Soon after, Love earned a free kick just outside the box and Muscat's resultant shot clipped