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ON-LOAN attacker James Troisi kept his World Cup hopes flickering with a well-taken late equaliser on Saturday night to keep Melbourne Victory's top two hopes alive.
Joel Chianese had put Sydney FC ahead before Troisi's 64th minute goal secured a 1-1 draw in a game played at finals like intensity in front of 20,447 at AAMI Park.
Central Coast's win over Western Sydney earlier in the day left the race for the crucial second spot wide open _ two points separate second-place Mariners (39 points) and fourth-place Victory (37), who sandwich the Wanderers (38).
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Kevin Muscat's penchant for big selection decisions continued with high-profile playmaker Tom Rogic left out of the squad entirely but Victory's attack fired without the Socceroo.
The first half was played at a frenetic pace with Gui Finkler's skills on show and Kosta Barbarouses and Archie Thompson interchanging wings and proving dangerous either side.
And while both teams created chances it wasn't until the tail-end of the half when either keeper was called into action.
Sydney Fc's Nikola Petkovic clears from the line. Source: News Corp Australia
Lawrence Thomas swatted away Matt Thompson's curling strike after 25 minutes while Finkler and Alessandro Del Piero's shots deflected for corners before Barbarouses blasted wide.
Sydney was unlucky not to win a penalty in dramatic scenes deep into first half injury time.
Pablo Contreras brought down Joel Chianese on the edge of the box and Del Piero's consequent free-kick struck Scott Galloway on the arm.
Jarred Gillett blew the whistle for half-time rather than a spot kick and words were exchanged at half-time as players from both sides surrounded the referee.
Mark Milligan had some choice words for Del Piero as they headed down the tunnel, perhaps remembering the Italian's late challenge that forced him off for treatment on his right knee.
Coach Frank Farina of Sydney looks on during the Big Blue. Source: Getty Images
And Del Piero then gave Muscat a piece of his mind as he did two minutes into the match when the Victory coach suggested to the referee that the player went down too easily from a Jimmy Jeggo challenge.
With 15 minutes to cool down at the break, Sydney re-emerged the more focused and took the lead three minutes later.
Thomas dived low to save Ali Abbas' shot but the rebound landed straight at Chianese's feet who tapped it into the empty net.
Thereafter the intensity rose several notches in a tactical and physical sense as Sasa Ognenovski's lunging tackle on Contreras saw tempers fray again.
Melbourne Victory's James Troisi celebrates his equaliser. Source: News Corp Australia
Nikola Petkovic headed off the line after a scramble but it wasn't long before Victory's press led to an equaliser.
Milligan pick-pocketed Abbas deep in Sydney's half and found Finkler who released Troisi and the lightning attacker toe-poked it past keeper Vedran Janjetovic.
Though Victory was the more threatening Sydney had the next chance, with Chianese shooting two metres wide after he reacted quickest to Del Piero's acrobatic effort.
Adama Traore limped off with cramp with 10 minutes left, such was the game's intensity.
Perhaps it was no surprise that the fatiguing sides failed to produce a meaningful chance in the dying stages, although Finkler tried his luck from distance in stoppage time but Janjetovic was alert.
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