A Marcus Younis-inspired Melbourne City made it four wins on the bounce with an impressive 3-2 victory over Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday evening.
Trailing at the break, a quickfire second-half double saw Younis turn the game on its head, before Medin Memeti put it almost beyond doubt with a third in the 80th minute.
The hosts did pull one back in stoppage time to briefly spark some life back into the contest, but ultimately, we had done enough to earn the points and lock in Finals football for a 12th consecutive season.
Team News
Aurelio Vidmar was forced into two changes, with both Nathaniel Atkinson (soreness) and Daniel Arzani (hamstring) unavailable due to minor injuries.
This saw Kavian Rahmani and Harry Shillington come into the starting XI, while Peter Antoniou and Emin Durakovic were added to the bench.
Starting XI: 1. Patrick BEACH (GK), 36. Harry SHILLINGTON, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN, 16. Aziz BEHICH (C), 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 30. Andreas KUEN, 47. Kavian RAHMANI, 28. Marcus YOUNIS, 11. Elbasan RASHANI, 15. Andrew NABBOUT.
Substitutes: 40. James NIEUWENHUIZEN (GK), 2. Harrison DELBRIDGE, 7. Mathew LECKIE, 17. Max CAPUTO, 35. Medin MEMETI, 37. Peter ANTONIOU, 39. Emin DURAKOVIC.
What happened?
City started brightly in Brisbane and looked the more dangerous side throughout the opening stages, creating a number of early opportunities but unable to find the breakthrough. Andreas Kuen was first to test the keeper after a loose clearance, while Kavian Rahmani went agonisingly close with a powerful strike that rattled the woodwork.
We continued to apply pressure as the half wore on, with Marcus Younis and Kuen both going close, but despite controlling large periods of the contest, we were unable to capitalise on our chances.
That would prove costly just before the break, as Brisbane took the lead against the run of play in the 44th minute.
Facing a deficit at half-time, City responded exactly how you’d hope after the restart. Our persistence was rewarded just after the hour mark when Younis stepped up from the penalty spot to level the scores, calmly converting after being brought down in the box.
That goal sparked us into life, and just five minutes later we had the lead. After an initial save from the Brisbane keeper, Younis reacted quickest to fire home his second of the night and turn the game on its head in the space of a few minutes.
With momentum firmly on our side, City continued to press and were rewarded again in the 80th minute. Substitute Medin Memeti made an impact, finding the back of the net to give us a deserved two-goal cushion after a great team move and put us in a commanding position heading into the final stages.
Brisbane did manage to pull one back deep into stoppage time with a long-range effort, but it proved little more than a consolation as City saw out the closing moments to secure another important three points on the road.
What’s next?
City will now look to secure a home Elimination Final in the final match of the season against Adelaide United next Sunday at AAMI Park.
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