The NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers have drawn 1-1 with Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium on Monday night.
Goals by Oriol Riera and Thomas Deng resulted in the points being shared by the two sides after Melbourne Victory were reduced to 10 men early in the first half.
Within 23 minutes Victory were reduced to ten men after Mitch Austin received his second yellow card for delaying play.
The Wanderers were quick to pounce on the opportunity of a depleted Melbourne side and found the opening goal through Riera.
Álvaro Cejudo played the ball in behind for Raúl Llorente whose fast pace and pinpoint cross was met by Riera’s header.
Jumpei Kusukami was brought down in the box by Rhys Williams and the Red & Black were awarded a penalty.
Riera stepped up to take the spot kick but the shot was expertly read by goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas.
Victory fired back with the equaliser early in the second half with Leroy George curling in a set piece that finished with Deng’s header.
Roly Bonevacia had the best chance of the night to put the Wanderers back in front, but his bullet of a strike smashed into the post.
Despite some end-to-end action towards the end of the match, neither team were able to break the 1-1 deadlock with the Wanderers returning back to Western Sydney with only one point.
The Wanderers will now switch their focus to their next away match against Melbourne City this Sunday at Etihad Stadium.
