Sydney holds Melbourne
Sydney has weathered a dominant performance from Melbourne to secure a share of the points in a 0-0 draw at Etihad Stadium, keeping the gap between the two at the top of the Hyundai A-League table to three points.
Melbourne had most of the possession and most of the chances - 21 to six - but a combination of wasteful shooting and a tight rear-guard action from the Sky Blues enabled the visitors to take a share of the points. Kevin Muscat's ambitions of marking his 500th club match with a win were thwarted and he'll have to be content with the fact his team are still on top of the table.
They head into Christmas on 35 points with eight games to go and in pole position to defend the premiership they won last year. But Sydney showed with this dogged performance that it will not just let Melbourne sail away with top spot.
Brisbane Roar surged into the Hyundai A-League top six after an injury time goal from Matt McKay handed them a thrilling 3-2 win against the Mariners in Gosford.
A blistering opening 20 minutes from the visitor had them in the box seat with two superb strikes from the flying Tommy Oar and Sergio Van Dijk.
But an uncharacteristic error from Roar skipper Craig Moore handed skilful English midfielder Nicky Travis an easy goal to give the Mariners a lifeline just before half-time.
And Coast substitute Dylan Macallister turned hero heading home with 15 minutes left to tie the game 2-2.
But in time added on Roar midfielder Matt McKay popped up to slam home a beautiful goal after the Coast's defence failed to clear a set piece to win the game.
Sydney has claimed its first W League title after stunning Brisbane with three second half goals to secure a 3-2 grand final win at Toyota Stadium.
The Sky Blues trailed 1-0 at the break but scored three goals in 12 minutes midway through the second term to deny Roar back-to-back trophies.
After a Lana Harch goal at the 15-minute mark separated the teams for almost an hour, the Sky Blues replied through Linda O'Neill (66th minute), Sarah Walsh (73m) and Julie Rydahl (78m) to steal a pulsating contest played out in hot and blustery conditions.
Tameka Butt replied with an injury time penalty for the Roar just seconds before a delirious Sydney bench sprinted on field to begin victory celebrations.
In the National Youth League Central Coast Marines defeated Brisbane Roar 4-3 while Perth Glory rose to second rung on the Youth League ladder with a 1-0 away win over Gold Coast United.