Melbourne City returned to winning ways in the A-League with a composed 1–0 win over the Newcastle Jets on Saturday afternoon at McDonald Jones Stadium.
In hot conditions, Kavian Rahmani’s composed first-half finish ultimately proved the difference in a tightly contested affair, as City began their road trip with an important win away from home.
TEAM NEWS
Aurelio Vidmar made four changes to the starting XI that took on Central Coast Mariners last weekend, with Liam Bonetig, Harry Shillington, Andreas Kuen and Medin Memeti named to start.
City duo Besian Kutleshi and Samuel Souprayen missed the clash with minor issues and will be assessed ahead of the team’s trip to South Korea, while Andrew Nabbout was ruled out under concussion protocols.
Elbasan Rashani and Nathaniel Atkinson made their returns from injury via the bench.
Starting XI: 1. Patrick BEACH (GK), 22. Germán FERREYRA, 4. Liam BONETIG, 36. Harry SHILLINGTON, 16. Aziz BEHICH (C), 27. Kai TREWIN, 30. Andreas KUEN, 10. Takeshi KANAMORI, 47. Kavian RAHMANI, 35. Medin MEMETI, 17. Max CAPUTO.
Substitutes: 33. Dakota OCHSENHAM (GK), 37. Peter ANTONIOU, 39. Emin DURAKOVIC, 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 11. Elbasan RASHANI, 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 20. Ben MAZZEO.
WHAT HAPPENED?
City started brightly despite the soaring Newcastle heat, with Takeshi Kanamori’s fourth-minute corner picking out the in-form Max Caputo, whose glancing header flashed across goal and wide.
Patrick Beach was called into action early, producing a sharp near-post save to deny Max Burgess in the 13th minute, continuing his run of strong performances.
Chances soon began to flow as City gained control. Andreas Kuen whipped in a dangerous low cross on 20 minutes, but Kanamori couldn’t keep his first-time effort down. Moments later, another Kuen delivery sparked a double chance, Medin Memeti’s initial shot was blocked, before Kanamori’s follow-up fizzed just wide.
The clearest chance yet arrived in the 23rd when Kai Trewin picked out Memeti with a superb pass. The attacker raced in behind but was denied one-on-one by James Delianov. Memeti then tried his luck from 20 yards after a powerful run, but couldn’t generate enough power to test the keeper.
The breakthrough finally came in the 27th minute. Memeti intercepted a sloppy Jets pass and found Kuen, who picked out Rahmani in space inside the area. The 19-year-old made no mistake, finishing with composure for his second A-League goal and giving City a deserved 1–0 lead.
City nearly doubled their advantage just before the break, but Kuen’s through-ball for Caputo had too much weight, and the teams went into the sheds with the score unchanged.
The hosts came out with renewed urgency. Patrick Beach was alert in the 48th minute to rush off his line and smother a threatening attack, before substitute Eli Adams teed up Alexander Badolato, whose strike flew over.
City continued to threaten on the counter, with Rahmani dazzling defenders with his footwork in the 70th minute before seeing a cross blocked. While at the other end, Adams again looked dangerous but couldn’t capitalise from close range.
A golden opportunity arrived in the 74th as five City players streamed forward on the break. Caputo attempted a delicate dink over the keeper, but Delianov stood tall to make the stop and deny City a second.
Moments later Newcastle’s Max Mata unleashed a powerful effort destined for the back of the net, only for Beach to produce a phenomenal fingertip save, pushing the shot onto the crossbar in a moment of brilliance.
Both Atkinson and Rashani made their returns from injury as City looked to close out the contest. Atkinson nearly created a second with a pinpoint cross in the 89th minute, but Rashani was inches away from connecting within the six yard box.
Despite late Jets pressure, City held firm to secure a well-earned three points on the road.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Vidmar’s side will head directly to South Korea for a crucial AFC Champions League Elite clash with FC Seoul, before returning home for the second Melbourne Derby of the season. Click here to secure your Derby tickets!
