Melbourne City played to a goalless draw with Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park after saving an early penalty in their A-League clash this morning.
Glen Moss had to be alert in the Wellington goal early on as Robert Koren looked to open the scoring in the first five minutes, but the keeper made a diving save to deny the Melbourne striker.
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City continued to look the more likely in the opening quarter of an hour as a looping cross from Aaron Mooy took a deflection, almost ending up in the back of the net.
Phoenix were handed an opportunity though when Safuwan Baharudin brought down Louis Fenton in the box, but Tando Velaphi correctly judged which way Nathan Burns was sending the resulting penalty, making the save.
Wellington continued to push as half time approached, with Manny Muscat coming out from the back to get a shot away, but he fired it straight at the keeper.
Velaphi was under pressure again shortly after the restart when Roy Krishna delivered a dangerous-looking cross in towards the back post, leaving the home keeper stretching, but it ended up going wide.
The hosts started to see more of the ball though, with Mooy racing forward before firing a cross in for Erik Paartalu, but his header was stopped by Moss.
Opportunities continued to fall at both ends of the pitch as Burns got free for the visitors before Joshua Kennedy unleashed a strike down the other end, but neither forward could beat the opposing keeper.
Moss almost slipped up 10 minutes later when he spilled the ball from a Safuwan shot, but the striker was unable to follow it up, allowing the visitors to charge back down the other end.
Mooy continued to create openings for the Melbourne side as he charged down the flank before looking for Kennedy and David Williams, but neither could reach the cross to turn it in.
The hosts were looking the more likely as the match headed into the final 10 minutes, but Jonatan Germano had his effort tipped behind by Moss.
Melbourne could have wrapped up all three points in the final seconds when Moss rushed off his line to try to clear a loose ball, but was beaten to it by Paartalu, but his header struck the crossbar.
The result leaves Wellington fifth in the table, while City sit one place behind.
Sian Cowper
