Melbourne City is out of the Australia Cup after ending on the wrong side of a nine-goal extra-time thriller away to Perth Glory on Saturday night.
Twice coming from behind, second half goals to Andrew Nabbout and Zane Schreiber had us up 4-2 with half an hour to play before Perth forced extra time with two late goals and went on to find the winner in the 114th minute.
Team News
Plenty of young talent was on display as Aurelio Vidmar handed senior debuts to four players, with new signings Kai Trewin and Germán Ferreyra also making their first City appearances.
Mathew Leckie was absent from the matchday squad due to a later return to pre-season training after Socceroos and A-League All Stars commitments, while Steven Ugarkovic missed as he recovers from a minor hip issue.
Starting XI: 40. James NIEUWENHUIZEN (GK), 2. Callum TALBOT, 27. Kai TREWIN, 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN, 16. Aziz BEHICH (C), 8. Jimmy JEGGO, 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 21. Alessandro LOPANE, 15. Andrew NABBOUT, 38. Harry POLITIDIS, 17. Max CAPUTO.
Substitutes: 33. Patrick BEACH (GK), 20. Arion SULEMANI, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 23. Marco TILIO, 35. Medin MEMETI, 41. Lawrence WONG, 42. Ben DUNBAR.
What happened?
James Nieuwenhuizen’s senior debut got off to a tough start, Abdelelah Faisal beating the 20-year-old at his near post just three minutes into the clash.
Despite the early goal, City was able to build back into the contest with Zane Schreiber in midfield and Andrew Nabbout on the wing looking lively.
The equaliser would then come in the 36th minute courtesy of some great link-up play.
Harry Politidis found himself in a pocket space on the left wing and used some quick feet to beat his man, before putting a perfectly timed cross into the box to meet an equally good run from Max Caputo who headed home City’s first of the campaign.
The 1-1 scoreline didn’t remain for long as we entered the second half, Adam Taggart this time causing headaches and firing the Glory into the lead.
City was quick to restore parity though, and it was Politidis this time getting on the scoresheet.
Ale Lopane forced a turnover in a dangerous place from the Glory backline and laid it off to the left winger, who made no mistake in slotting home his first senior goal.
Nabbout was next to join the party as City finally took the lead for the first time of the night in the 64th minute.
Politidis was again involved with the 22-year-old grabbing his second assist of the night courtesy of a lovely cross-pitch switch to set up the veteran, Nabbout then driving forward, cutting inside and curling home a trademark goal.
The onslaught continued with a third goal inside 17 minutes, Zane Schreiber making it 4-2 with a brilliant strike for his first senior goal.
It was something out of nothing from the young midfielder, firing from the edge of the box into the opposite corner to cap off the best performance of his young career.
Unfortunately for City fans watching on back in Melbourne, it was Perth who finished strongest over the final 20 minutes, scoring twice to send the game into extra time.
Ben Dunbar and Lawrence Wong entered the pitch for the senior debuts in the first half of extra time, joining Arion Sulemani who came on late in the 90.
Ferreyra also came on for his first minutes in a City shirt and was involved in a crucial moment in the 97th, combining with Nieuwenhuizen to clear the danger off the goal line as Glory searched for the winner.
It would be to no avail though, Nathaniel Blair finding a way through after a brilliant touch from a Perth corner to score the pivotal goal with just minutes on the clock.
What’s next?
Following the disappointing early Cup exit, City will now shift its full focus to the A-League Men’s season which will begin away to Newcastle on Saturday 19 October.
