City, Glory play out A-League stalemate

The result ends the Glory's six-game winning streak, with neither side able to find a clinical moment on Saturday night to snap the deadlock.

"We're happy - of course we're happy," Glory coach Tony Popovic said.

"We were away from home; we've had consecutive tough games - Western Sydney and now here in Melbourne.

"We're playing a team that's expected to be up there. It's a good away point - very good."

The first half was a tightly fought affair, with City spurning early chances before Perth started to build pressure of their own.

Florin Berenguer hit a half-volley straight at Liam Reddy just two minutes into the game, before Jamie Maclaren spurned a gilt-edged chance in the fourth minute.

Craig Noone swung the ball in from the right, with Kim Soobeom clearing the cross into the path of Maclaren, who hit a tame shot to Reddy.

City were again denied in the 13th minute. Curtis Good delivered a superb long ball to Berenguer who nodded it down to Maclaren. The striker found Adrian Luna, whose scintillating strike forced a superb save from Reddy.

In the 33rd minute, Perth's Neil Kilkenny swung a corner kick to the back post, but Bruno Fornaroli headed wide.

Eight minutes later, the Glory's Diego Castro shot a close-range effort straight at Dean Bouzanis.

Perth were awarded a penalty in the 55th minute when Josh Brillante brought down Fornaroli but, after a VAR review, the Glory striker was found to be offside, with City receiving a free kick.

City came desperately close to breaking the deadlock in the 65th minute, when Maclaren headed Luna's chipped cross off target.

In the 67th minute, Fornaroli's deflected strike forced a good save from Bouzanis and, less than a minute later, Good almost scored an own-goal, heading Kilkenny's corner kick into his own post.

In the 82nd minute, Harrison Delbridge headed Berenguer's free kick over the bar in what was the game's final genuine chance.

"Today, I want to congratulate our team on our defensive performance," City coach Erick Mombaerts said.

"We were very strong. We conceded not too many chances in play - yes, we conceded (chances) on set pieces but we were very strong.

"It was a very tough game - two good teams."

City are 10 points behind leaders Sydney FC, but maintain a two-point buffer over the Glory, with Wellington another point back.

Spaniard Markel Susaeta made his first start for City, while Scottish injury replacement signing Jack Hendry played the full game at centre-back.

Australian Associated Press