A-League champions Melbourne Victory survived another disciplinary disaster - this time involving skipper Kevin Muscat - to grab a brave 1-1 draw with Wellington Phoenix at Telstra Dome on Saturday night.

Muscat was sent off after just 35 minutes for committing two fouls in the space of 60 seconds, leaving his 10 teammates the job of hanging on to keep their season alive.

And they did - though results on Sunday could alter that picture - defending courageously and even having a couple of chances to pinch an unlikely win.

Muscat became the fourth Victory player to be given his marching orders this season after a bad challenge on Tim Brown earned the wrath of referee Peter Green.

But for the second consecutive week, the Phoenix couldn't put away 10 men, and they had to even grab a draw the hard way after fighting back from a goal down.

Melbourne went a goal up after Muscat's send-off thanks - not for the first time this season - to sloppy Phoenix defending in the 42nd minute.

First the visitors let the dangerous Archie Thompson run at them on the edge of the box, before he delivered a low ball to the far post.

Phoenix defender Tony Lochhead was playing Danny Allsopp onside just a couple of metres out from goal, and the ball found the big centre-forward, who couldn't believe his luck to tap in from close range.

Melbourne circled the defensive wagons, but the Phoenix levelled up thanks to a long-range strike by Vince Lia in the 58th minute which gave the defence and goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos no chance.

Thompson remained the lone presence up front for Melbourne, and he twice nearly pinched a winner.

Phoenix defender Karl Dodd got an important challenge in as Thompson prepared to pull the trigger one-on-one in the 67th minute.

Then the Socceroo's header from an injury-time corner went just wide.

Wellington's best chance of breaking the deadlock came when Theoklitos pulled off a diving save from a Kristian Rees header in the 69th minute.

The Victory remain in sixth place, but still within sight of a top four spot, while the Phoenix are three points behind Melbourne and seemingly out of finals contention.

Victory coach Ernie Merrick refused to criticise Muscat for his rash challenge which earned the send-off, preferring instead to praise the 10 remaining players for hanging on.

"The boys played with a lot of vigour and passion today," Merrick said.

"Overall it's a good point with 10 men, but it makes it very tough when you lose your captain and leader.

"It was a tremendous performance to hang on until the end."

Wellington coach Ricki Herbert was pleased with his team, who continue to make life difficult for rival sides in the competition and have been a massive improvement on their underwhelming predecessors New Zealand Knights.

"I thought we were decent tonight apart from a silly mistake, which kind of can be us at times," Herbert said.

"It's very much a learning pattern for us. We're going to have some up and downs, but tonight was a decent result for us against the champions."

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