Western Sydney Wanderers have moved back to the top of the Hyundai A-League after a tense 0-0 draw with a well-organised Adelaide United at Pirtek Stadium on Saturday night.
It was a game befitting a meeting between two sides with Premiership ambitions.
Chances were few and far between as the two heavyweights slugged it out in Parramatta.
Both sides cancelled each other in the first 45 minutes though the big talking point was a yellow card to Reds winger Bruce Kamau.
On 11 minutes, the Reds flyer surged past Wanderers keeper Reddy and went down.
It appeared a clear foul but the Japanese referee yellow carded the Kamau for simulation. Coach Amor was furious.
As the teams left the pitch at half time the Reds remonstrated with the referee Takuto Okabe.
The Wanderers pressed in the second half and just after the hour, United defender McGowan threw himself at the ball to deny one of the clearest chances of the game.
Wanderers hit the post inside the last 10 minutes from a desperate Santalab header.
And Bridge missed the target in the final minute with a curling shot that could’ve won it.
But the home side were unable to weave any late magic as the game ended in a stalemate.
KEY MOMENT
Kamau’s yellow early in the first half. The Reds felt it should’ve been a red to Reddy. If the ref had sent off the keeper it could’ve changed the course of the game.
OPTA DATA STATS
The first corner kick came in the 62nd minute.
THE FINAL WORD
The tightness of this clash mirrors the tightness of the run-in to the Premiership – the Reds could still win it. So could Wanderers, so could City and so could Roar with just two points between the top four sides.
