Melbourne City opened the 2025/26 Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s season with a share of the points, drawing 1-1 with Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday evening at CommBank Stadium.
In an entertaining contest to kick off the campaign, both goals arrived inside the opening 15 minutes. Kosta Barbarouses struck early for the hosts before Max Caputo hit back almost instantly with a clever finish to earn City a point on the road.
Team News
There were no major surprises in Aurelio Vidmar’s first starting XI of the new ALM season, with the City Head Coach naming a strong and familiar side featuring a few fresh faces.
Elbasan Rashani came into the lineup for his first start in City colours, while he and Takeshi Kanamori both made their A-League Men’s debuts after featuring in the Club’s recent AFC Champions League Elite fixtures.
Starting XI: 1. Patrick BEACH (GK), 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN, 16. Aziz BEHICH (C), 27. Kai TREWIN, 7. Mathew LECKIE, 30. Andreas KUEN, 10. Takeshi KANAMORI, 11. Elbasan RASHANI, 17. Max CAPUTO.
Substitutes: 33. Dakota OCHSENHAM (GK), 4. Liam BONETIG, 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 36. Harry SHILLINGTON, 38. Beckham BAKER, 39. Emin DURAKOVIC, 47. Kavian RAHMANI.
What happened?
The Wanderers settled the quicker of the two sides in the early stages and took the lead in the 11th minute when Kosta Barbarouses was played through and finished past Patrick Beach.
City responded immediately through Max Caputo, who showcased his sharp instincts in front of goal. A superb long ball from Andreas Kuen from inside his own half sent the 20-year-old striker one-on-one with Wanderers keeper Lawrence Thomas, and Caputo produced a brilliant first-time flick to lift the ball over the onrushing keeper and level the scores.
That goal settled City’s rhythm, with the team growing in confidence as the half progressed. Rashani was lively on the left, linking up well with Behich, while Trewin provided composure in midfield – breaking up play and recycling possession to keep City on the front foot.
City had another good look at goal in the 31st minute when Nathaniel Atkinson whipped in a dangerous cross that Rashani met, but the Kosovan international’s header flew just wide.
At the other end, Beach was called into action before the break, producing a smart stop to deny Brandon Borrello as City held firm through a series of late Wanderers corners to head into half-time locked at 1-1.
City returned from the break looking the stronger of the two sides, dictating much of the play and dominating possession through Trewin’s control in the middle of the park.
A golden chance arrived in the 55th minute when Rashani slid a low ball across the box for Kanamori, but Thomas reacted sharply to keep out the Japanese attacker’s effort.
Vidmar turned to his bench with 20 minutes to play, introducing Kavian Rahmani, Emin Durakovic, and Zane Schreiber, all of whom added energy and intensity in midfield and attack.
Youngster Beckham Baker was handed his A-League Men’s debut in the 80th minute and made an immediate impact, winning the ball high and driving forward to create a dangerous attacking opportunity.
Schreiber had a late chance to snatch all three points for City with a curling effort from the edge of the area, but his strike was comfortably held by Thomas.
Ultimately, the points were shared after a tightly contested 90 minutes – a fair reflection of an evenly matched season opener that offered plenty of encouraging signs for Vidmar’s side.
What’s next?
A big week awaits City, with back-to-back home fixtures on the horizon.
Vidmar’s side will first host Buriram United in the AFC Champions League Elite on Tuesday night, before resuming A-League Men’s duties against Perth Glory next Saturday.
