Third-placed Brisbane Roar saw off Adelaide United 2-0 to go level with Sydney, though trailing on goal difference, with three points separating the top three.

Melbourne Victory are now well placed in fourth as they maintained their recent fine form with a 5-0 rout of Perth Glory.

However, all eyes were on the nation’s capital where victory for either team would have been an enormous step towards securing the premiership.

The stalemate leaves Canberra maintaining their three-point buffer and masters of their own destiny, with seven points from their remaining three matches enough to guarantee their maiden crown.

With much on the line a tough and physical contest saw two evenly matched teams battle it out at Deakin Stadium.

After Ashleigh Sykes hit the post in the opening period, the two goalkeepers – Canberra’s Lydia Williams and Sydney’s Allison Lipsher - were largely inactive, although both needed to make impressive stops when called into action.

The Sky Blues lost Servet Uzunlar after the Matildas defender was issued with a second caution ten minutes from full time, but the visitors nevertheless poured on the pressure in the dying stages.

Sydney had a strong claim for a penalty waived away while Sarah Walsh struck a shot into the side netting.

Brisbane Roar made the most of the stalemate by claiming three points with their hard-fought victory over an increasingly stubborn Adelaide side.

The Roar bookended the game with goals from Aivi Luik, her maiden Westfield W-League strike, and also Emily Gielnik with the latter not arriving until deep into added time.

Adelaide defended stoutly and goalkeeper Sian McLaren shone in making a couple of spectacular stops.

It was the latest in a sequence of narrow losses this season which must leave the Lady Reds looking good to break their lengthy winless run against the struggling Perth Glory next weekend at home.

Perth’s disastrous week ended in further disappointment with a 5-0 home defeat against Melbourne Victory.

A record losing scoreline against Sydney last weekend was followed by the departure of two of the Glory’s imports for disciplinary reasons.

A suspension to the team’s third import, Katie Holtham, stretched resources further and it was no surprise when the visitors immediately took charge.

The Victory led by three at the midway point of the first half and only a number of spurned goalscoring opportunities preventing the scoreline from blowing out further.

Victory skipper Jodie Taylor scored a hat-trick – her first in the Westfield W-League – to move to seven goals, behind only Canberra’s Michelle Heyman on the goalscorer’s leaderboard. Attacking midfield dynamo Katrina Gorry was also on the scoresheet with a double.

The win solidified the Victory’s hold on fourth leaving them six points clear of Newcastle, although the Jets have two matches in hand.