It was a special night for City’s Academy in Perth, with three exciting young products combining for the team’s fifth goal of the evening.
Kavian Rahmani, Ben Dunbar, and Medin Memeti’s link-up saw the trio produce a brilliant goal in the team’s dominant 5-0 win over Perth Glory – a moment that highlighted the strength and potential of City’s Academy.
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It was a night to remember for the trio of Academy products, with 17-year-old Memeti leading the line in his first-ever senior start and Rahmani making his professional debut off the bench in the second-half.
The goal came shortly after Rahmani’s inclusion, with the winger picking up the ball before combining with fellow City Academy product, Dunbar, and then delivering a precise low cross to Memeti, who made no mistake, firing the ball into the back of the net from close range.
The goal was the icing on the cake for a comprehensive three points claimed away from home, and served as a reminder of the importance of City’s Academy in producing Australia’s next generation of footballing talent.
It came just five minutes after Dunbar was credited with his first senior assist, teeing up Yonatan Cohen for the wingers first City goal.
Following the final whistle, Aurelio Vidmar praised the efforts of the Academy trio who stood up in the absence of City stars Andrew Nabbout and Marco Tilio.
“We desperately need those guys in the team [Andrew Nabbout and Marco Tilio], but that also gives opportunity for guys like [Medin] Memeti, Kavian [Rahmani] came on and made the assist, Ben Dunbar also came on and put himself about,” Vidmar reflected.
“So they’re still learning, they’re still kids, they’re still getting used to the intensity of training, but I think the pleasing thing for us is that throughout the pre-season we integrated them within the playing style, the game model, so it’s not foreign to them, they might be at times a little bit late to make decisions but in time, with more experience, I think they’ve got a lot of growth.”
With three Academy products linking up for a memorable goal, it showed us that we have a lot to look forward to this season as we continue to watch our youngsters develop and grow.
They weren’t the only City Academy graduates in action on the night either, as Harry Politidis made his second consecutive start (21 total senior appearances) and Nathaniel Atkinson continued his strong early season form.
While our Men’s squad won’t be taking to the pitch next weekend, an action-packed City Fan Festival, presented by Federation University, is coming your way at the City Football Academy Melbourne – ctrl:cyber Campus at Casey Fields on Saturday 16 November. Find out more and don’t miss it!
