The annual Christmas derby has finished all square at 1-1 in front of a vibrant AAMI Park crowd.

It looked as though Melbourne Victory were going to walk away with the three points and their seventh consecutive win after Kosta Barbarouses found an unmarked Ola Toivonen at the back post for the opener.

But in true derby fashion late drama unfolded as Dario Vidosic rose in a congested penalty area to head home the winner in stoppage time and ensure Melbourne City did not leave empty handed.

Unlike the second half, the first was filled with chances for both teams who were denied only by their own inaccuracy and superb goalkeeping.

Despite not having marquee and leading goal scorer Keisuke Honda, Melbourne Victory kept the same formation.

Leigh Broxham replaced Honda on the right side of the diamond and did not look out of place, combining well with his teammates to put Melbourne City on the backfoot in the early stages of the match.

James Troisi had Victory’s best chance of the half finding space inside the box after being through by Kosta Barbarouses but found Eugene Galekovic’s chest instead of the back of the net.

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Melbourne City did well to absorb Victory’s pressure and finished the opening half the stronger of the two. Lawrence Thomas was called into action twice in the one minute pulling off match winning saves to deny Rostyn Griffiths from distance before denying Ritchie De Laet from a set piece.

Thomas was called into action once more before the end of the half coming off his line to stop City striker Lachlan Wales who had beaten Victory’s defence.

While Victory dominated the second half they were unable to make it count on the scoreboard. City meanwhile did not look like scoring during the second half with their only chance coming from Vidosic’s late goal.

Melbourne Victory will have their chance to get back on the winners list when they host Wellington Phoenix next week while City travel to Sydney to face the Western Sydney Wanderers.

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Melbourne City 1 ( Vidosic 92’) drew with Melbourne Victory 1 (Toivonen 55’)

Melbourne City :

Eugene Galekovic, Ritchie De Laet, Nathanial Atkinson (64’), Bart Schenkeveld, Harrison Delbridge, Scott Jamieson, Rostyn Griffiths, Kearyn Baccus, Riley McGree, Luke Bratten, Ramy Najjarine (77’) Dario Vidosic, Lachlan Wales, Michael O’Halloran (67’)

Unused substitutes:

Mark Birighitti, Osama Malik

Melbourne Victory:

Lawrence Thomas, Storm Roux, Thomas Deng, Nick Ansell, Corey Brown, Leigh Broxham, Josh Hope (88’) Carl Valeri, Terry Antonis, James Troisi, Ola Toivonen, Kosta Barbarouses

Unused substitutes:

Matt Acton, Kenny Athiu, Rahmat Akbari, Birkan Kirdar

Match Officials: 

Referee : Shaun Evans

Assistant Referee 1 : George Lakrindis

Assistant Referee 2: Andrew Meimarakis

Fourth Official: Lachlan Keevers