Melbourne Victory have scraped into the A-League Women finals after surviving a determined Canberra United effort to secure a 0-0 draw at AAMI Park on Friday evening.
Victory's best chances arrived very late and after a number of Canberra opportunities, the home side nonetheless escaping with a share of the spoils to move them onto 24 points in the final standings.
Perth Glory downed Wellington 3-1 in a simultaneous kick-off in Wollongong to also end on 24 points but with their goal difference seven back of Victory.
Winless in their last five, Victory are staring down the barrel of a visit to red-hot Adelaide United in the first week of the finals - a side that beat them 3-0 at Coopers Stadium a week ago.
Both Catherine Zimmerman and Michelle Heyman were played through their foes' lines in the opening half hour but their shots were charged down by the opposition goalkeeper.
United almost took the lead in the 51st minute after Heyman maneuvered past both Brooke Hendrix and Tiffany Eliadis in the area, only for her shot to be charged down again by Casey Dumont.
Margot Robinne pounced on the rebound, only to hit the post.
Robinne and Heyman would again break through one-on-one with Dumont but on both occasions, their shots went straight at the custodian.
Substitute Harriet Withers had a shot saved by Chloe Lincoln as Victory began a belated push for a winner.
They then had a goal disallowed in the 85th when Zimmerman fired Kyra-Cooney Cross' effort of the post back on goal, only for the assistant to deem that Alex Chidiac interfered with play in an offside position.
Nevertheless, the final whistle was blown soon after to end their anxiety.
