Melbourne City showed some encouraging signs but ultimately went down 3-1 to Auckland FC in Saturday’s A-League Men’s season opener at Go Media Stadium.
In a meeting between the Champions of the past two seasons, both sides found the net in an entertaining first half, with City debutant Quinn MacNicol cancelling out Lachlan Bayliss’ opener to send the teams into the break level.
Despite some positive passages of play from Aurelio Vidmar’s side, it was the hosts who made the most of their opportunities after the restart, with Bayliss completing his brace before Lachie Brook sealed the result late in the contest.
Team News
Despite several key off-season arrivals being unavailable through injury, Vidmar still had plenty of quality to call upon for his first starting XI of the new campaign.
Three players made their competitive City debuts from the opening whistle, with Macklin Freke getting the nod in goal, while Socceroo Awer Mabil and young midfielder Quinn MacNicol were also handed starts.
There was experience among the substitutes too, with Mathew Leckie, Max Caputo and Takeshi Kanamori all named on the bench.
Starting XI: 1. Macklin FREKE (GK), 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 4. Liam BONETIG, 2. Harrison DELBRIDGE, 16. Aziz BEHICH, 14. Besian KUTLESHI, 24. Kavian RAHMANI, 19. Quinn MACNICOL, 23. Medin MEMETI, 11. Awer MABIL, 15. Andrew NABBOUT.
Substitutes: 40. James NIEUWENHUIZEN (GK), 7. Mathew LECKIE, 9. Max CAPUTO, 22. Peter ANTONIOU, 39. Roland BALLAH, 41. Lawrence WONG, 77. Takeshi KANAMORI.
What happened?
City made a positive start in Auckland, settling into the contest well and enjoying some promising spells of possession in the opening stages.
MacNicol had the game’s first genuine sight at goal in the 12th minute, firing his effort over the crossbar, while Kavian Rahmani was looking lively in the middle of the park.
The hosts soon began to threaten themselves, with Jake Brimmer unleashing a powerful strike in the 16th minute that flew narrowly over Freke’s crossbar.
As the half progressed, Mabil began to work his way into the contest, showing glimpses of his quality with some dangerous set-piece deliveries.
Andrew Nabbout then almost produced a moment of magic just after the half-hour mark, trying his luck from distance and forcing a strong save to turn the ball behind for a corner.
Despite City’s encouraging start, it was Auckland who struck first.
Bayliss caught Freke off his line with an ambitious effort from long range, giving the hosts the advantage.
City’s response though, was impressive.
Less than 10 minutes later, Rahmani produced a clever clipped pass into the penalty area, picking out MacNicol in space.
The young midfielder needed no second invitation, meeting the ball first time with his left foot and guiding a composed finish across goalkeeper Michael Woud and into the far corner.
It was a brilliant way to mark his City debut, ensuring the teams headed into the break locked at 1-1.
Unfortunately, Auckland made the stronger start to the second half.
After City were unable to clear our lines following a counterattack, Bayliss was on hand to score his second of the afternoon in the 53rd minute and restore the hosts’ advantage.
City almost found an immediate response when Medin Memeti was presented with a golden opportunity just minutes later, but with Woud off his line, the young attacker couldn’t quite execute his lifted finish, sending the ball wide.
Vidmar’s side continued to push forward in search of another equaliser, with Max Caputo introduced for Nabbout in the 67th minute before Mathew Leckie and Lawrence Wong entered the contest with 15 minutes remaining.
Despite City’s efforts, it was Auckland who found the all-important next goal.
Lachie Brook struck from outside the penalty area in the 85th minute, extending the hosts’ advantage to 3-1.
City continued to press deep into stoppage time, with Memeti coming agonisingly close to pulling one back in the 93rd minute, only for Woud to produce an excellent save to deny his header.
It ultimately wasn’t to be for City, with the hosts taking all three points despite some promising moments from Vidmar’s side.
What’s next?
There’s no shortage of motivation to bounce back quickly, with the first Melbourne Derby of the season awaiting next Saturday night!
We’ll be the away side for our first fixture at AAMI Park of the new campaign, as we look to respond with a big performance against our cross-town rivals.
Click here to secure your tickets and make sure to purchase into Bay 14 to get amongst the atmosphere in City Active!
