Melbourne City secured a history-making victory in the AFC Champions League Elite on Wednesday night, producing a composed and resilient performance away from home to defeat Ulsan HD 2-1 and confirm qualification for the knockout stages for the first time in Club history.
In a match that demanded patience and defensive discipline, Marcus Younis delivered a standout display to claim Player of the Match honours, first providing a sublime assist for Max Caputo’s opener before sealing the result himself with a stunning stoppage-time volley after Ulsan had drawn level late on.
Team News
Aurelio Vidmar made two changes to the side that earned a draw away to Western Sydney Wanderers on the weekend, with Harrison Delbridge handed his first start since returning to the Club and Max Caputo restored to the starting XI to lead the line.
There was also welcome news on the bench, where both Kavian Rahmani (knee) and Emin Durakovic (concussion) were named after missing recent fixtures through injury.
Starting XI: 1. Patrick BEACH (GK), 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 2. Harrison DELBRIDGE, 16. Aziz BEHICH (C), 8. Ryan TEAGUE, 21. Alessandro LOPANE, 30. Andreas KUEN, 28. Marcus YOUNIS, 35. Medin MEMETI, 17. Max CAPUTO.
Substitutes: 40. James NIEUWENHUIZEN (GK), 4. Liam BONETIG, 14. Daniel ARZANI, 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN, 36. Harry SHILLINGTON, 37. Peter ANTONIOU, 39. Emin DURAKOVIC, 41. Lawrence WONG, 44. Besian KUTLESHI, 47. Kavian RAHMANI.
What happened?
City showed no signs of being overawed by the occasion, pressing with intent from the opening exchanges and earning a corner inside the first minute. While Ulsan began to enjoy more of the ball as the half wore on, City remained compact and well organised, limiting the hosts’ opportunities and looking dangerous on the counter.
An encouraging spell down the left nearly produced the opener in the 34th minute, when Marcus Younis met Aziz Behich’s inviting cross with a glancing header that drifted just wide. Two minutes later, City’s pressure told in devastating fashion.
A rapid counterattack down the right saw Nathaniel Atkinson and Alessandro Lopane heavily involved in the build-up, before Younis delivered a pinpoint cross into the box. Max Caputo timed his run perfectly, rising to meet it with a powerful header that cannoned in off the near post to give City a deserved lead.
Ulsan pushed for a response before the break, but Patrick Beach stood tall, producing a save in the 41st minute to tip a goalbound effort over the bar and preserve City’s advantage heading into half-time.
The hosts emerged with renewed intent after the interval, but City’s defensive structure held firm through the early stages of the second half. A moment of danger arrived in the 65th minute when a second-phase cross found Myeong-Kwan Seo, though his header was comfortably gathered by Beach.
Vidmar turned to his bench with a triple change shortly after, introducing Samuel Souprayen, Harry Shillington and Daniel Arzani as City looked to manage the growing pressure while still posing a threat in transition. Chances followed at the other end, with Medin Memeti forcing a save after winning the ball high up the pitch, before Younis tested the goalkeeper again moments later from a second-phase corner.
There was a welcome sight in the 78th minute as Kavian Rahmani returned to action following his MCL injury, but City’s resistance was finally broken shortly after, with Darijan Bojanic finding the equaliser in the 80th minute.
Undeterred, City continued to push forward deep into stoppage time, winning a series of corners and set pieces.
That pressure proved decisive in the 93rd minute when Behich delivered another dangerous ball into the area. After a brief scramble, the ball fell perfectly for Younis, who unleashed a magnificent volley into the back of the net to spark jubilant scenes on the City bench and secure a famous victory.
What’s next?
With qualification now confirmed, attention turns to seeding in the knockout stages as City prepare to host Gangwon FC in our final League Stage fixture next Wednesday night at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
