Last year’s grand finalists Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory met for the first time this season at Goodwin Park in Brisbane on Sunday afternoon, only for the contest to end in a hotly contested stalemate.
The first half proved to be a tight affair, with both teams struggling going forward due to the swirling wind, but the first clear cut chance fell to the Roar, with Larissa Crummer well denied by a brave Brianna Davey.
Davey was called into action again four minutes later, denying Haley Raso with another brave save.
The Matildas’ keeper was then treated for a head knock following the second save, but was able to continue as she shook off the injury.
It was all Brisbane in the early stages, with the hosts going close again on the half-hour.
Kim Carroll fired an ambitious shot from 30-yards wide of the post, before Katrina Gorry forced Davey into another good save from range.
With 3 minutes remaining in the half, a wonderful counter-attack from Elise Kellond-Knight and Gorry saw Kellond-Knight send a dangerous shot over the bar.
Just before the half, Davey finally succumbed to her injuries, and was replaced by back-up keeper Cassie Dimovski.
The score was 0-0 going into the half-time break, with the home side having by far the better chances.
The game, somewhat surprisingly, was quiet in the first 20 minutes of the second term, as both teams tried to find the cutting edge.
On 65 minutes, Melbourne created their best chance of the game as Lisa De Vanna played a ball across for Gema Simon, who’s shot was crucially blocked by a Brisbane defender.
The deadlock was finally broken however after 72 minutes, with the visitors clinical in attack.
The ever-present De Vanna played a ball through to the in-form Amy Jackson, who expertly placed her shot past German international Nadine Angerer.
Just five minutes later, Beattie Goad was found after another elegant De Vanna pass, and the fleet-footed winger used her pace to get into the box, but her shot was this time saved by Angerer.
Ten minutes after falling behind, Brisbane got a deserved equaliser.
Sunny Franco pounced on a rare mistake from Emma Checker, who’s clearance was deflected off Franco, before sliding the ball past the diving Dimovski.
Both teams then looked for the winner, but neither were able to create a real clear cut chance, with a draw a fair result for both teams on the balance of play.
Melbourne host Canberra next round, whilst Brisbane travel to face Newcastle.
Brisbane Roar: 1. Nadine Angerer (GK), 2. Laura Alleway, 4. Claire Polkinghorne (c), 5. Brooke Spence, 6. Hayley Raso (17. Emily Gielnik 79’) , 7. Kim Carroll, 8. Elise Kellond-Knight, 9. Larissa Crummer (3. Amy Chapman 50’), 10. Katrina Gorry, 11. Vedrana Popovic (18. Sunny Franco 79’), 13. Tameka Butt
Unused Sub(s): 20. Kate Stewart (gk)
Melbourne Victory XI: 1. Brianna Davey (GK) (20. Cassandra Dimovski 45’), 2. Hannah Brewer, 5. Lauren Barnes, 6. Gema Simon, 7. Stephanie Catley (c), 8. Amy Jackson, 10. Christine Nairn, 11. Lisa De Vanna, 12. Ella Mastrantonio, 15. Emma Checker, 16. Beattie Goad
Unused Sub(s): 9. Rachael Quigley, 17. Gulcan Koca, 18. Elli Reed