Melbourne City picked up an important three points on Melbourne Cup eve against Western United.
Andrew Nabbout’s second-half goal proved to be the difference, but unfortunately, injuries to the City leader and Marco Tilio dampened the evening.
Team News
Aurelio Vidmar made three changes to his starting XI from the Round 2 Melbourne Derby.
Andreas Kuen came into the line-up for his first City start and was joined in midfield by Zane Schreiber, while Harry Politidis also made his first start of the season.
Mathew Leckie was included in a matchday squad for the first time this season, named among a substitutes bench which also included Yonatan Cohen who had been ill in the days prior.
Starting XI: 33. Patrick BEACH (GK), 2. Callum TALBOT, 27. Kai TREWIN, 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN, 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 6. Steven UGARKOVIC, 30. Andreas KUEN, 23. Marco TILIO, 38. Harry POLITIDIS, 15. Andrew NABBOUT (C).
Substitutes: 1. Jamie YOUNG (GK), 7. Mathew LECKIE, 10. Yonatan COHEN, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 35. Medin MEMETI, 42. Ben DUNBAR, 47. Kavian RAHMANI.
What happened?
City began the game on the front foot, although clear cut chances were hard to come by. It took until the 16th minute for a shot to be registered, Andrew Nabbout swivelling and shooting straight at Matt Sutton in goal following a deflected Nathaniel Atkinson cross.
Remaining patient in build-up, the half belonged all to City, although clear cut chances were certainly at a premium.
Harry Politidis went close to scoring in the 23rd minute, turning a good Marco Tilio cross straight into the post.
Unfortunately that would be one of the final involvements for Tilio, the Socceroos winger resigned to the bench later in the half after going down with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
A well-worked setpiece in the dying first-halfmoments saw Callum Talbot’s cross find Nabbout via a smart flick-on from Samuel Souprayen, but there was a little too much on it as the City #15 couldn’t quite get to the ball to turn it goalward.
Harry Politidis was the next to get close, finidng his way through on goal in first half stoppage time, but blazing his effort over the bar after a good first touch.
City fans wouldn’t have to wait long into the second 45 for the breakthrough to finally come, the deadlock being broken less than four minutes after the resumption.
Nabbout won it back on halfway for City before continuing his run all the way to the penalty box to put home a great Kuen assist and make it 1-0.
Sadly for City, just minutes later our number 15 was helped from the field – joining Tilio on the bench with what looked to be a pair of nasty injuries.
A double sub with little over 10 minutes to play took the second half headlines, Mathew Leckie making his return to the pitch while 18-year-old Academy product, Ben Dunbar, made his A-League debut.
The play of Souprayen and Kai Trewin in the heart of defence allowed City to stay resolute, seeing out a professional three points and never really looking troubled at the back.
What’s next?
One fixture remains before the season’s first international break as City makes the trip west to face Perth Glory on Sunday evening.
