Melbourne City marked our return home with a much-needed three points on Saturday evening, thanks to Lawrence Wong’s first professional goal.
The decisive moment came in the 37th minute, though City could have easily claimed a bigger win after controlling large portions of the contest.
Team News
Aurelio Vidmar made three changes to his starting XI, with two of those forced due to minor injury and illness.
Samuel Souprayen was rested as a precaution after pulling up sore late in the week, while an under-the-weather Ben Mazzeo was ruled out after missing training in recent days.
Souprayen’s absence saw a defensive reshuffle, with Aziz Behich shifting centrally and Nathaniel Atkinson returning to the XI at right-back, pushing Callum Talbot to the left.
Further up the pitch, Marco Tilio returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Round 3, while Kavian Rahmani was also recalled to the XI on the opposite wing.
Starting XI: 33. Patrick BEACH (GK), 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 16. Aziz BEHICH (C), 2. Callum TALBOT, 6. Steven UGARKOVIC, 7. Mathew LECKIE, 41. Lawrence WONG, 23. Marco TILIO, 47. Kavian RAHMANI, 17. Max CAPUTO.
Substitutes: 40. James NIEUWENHUIZEN (GK), 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 36. Harry SHILLINGTON, 38. Harry POLITIDIS, 39. Emin DURAKOVIC, 42. Ben DUNBAR, 50. Mikey GHOSSAINI.
What happened?
Making just his third professional start, Kavian Rahmani was City’s most dangerous attacking outlet for much of the first half.
He had the first real chance of the night in the 6th minute, latching onto some slick buildup play from Wong and Callum Talbot, but a deflection took the sting out of his shot, making for a comfortable save for Oli Sail.
At the other end, Patrick Beach produced a crucial save in the 16th minute, diving acrobatically to deny former City winger Lachie Wales.
Rahmani continued to threaten, linking up with Marco Tilio and Mathew Leckie in the 21st minute, but couldn’t generate enough power or precision to trouble Sail. He went even closer in the 28th, forcing the Perth keeper into a full-stretch diving save to keep the scores level.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 37th minute, when Tilio’s pressure on the edge of the area forced a deflection that landed perfectly for Wong.
The 19-year-old wasted no time, unleashing a stunning strike on his non-preferred right boot to open his professional account and become City’s youngest Men’s goalscorer.
City nearly had a second moments later when Max Caputo tapped home a rebound from a parried Tilio effort, only to be denied by the offside flag, with replays showing he was just millimetres ahead of the last defender.
The second half saw City continue to dominate possession, but clear-cut chances were few and far between.
At the other end, the makeshift defensive pairing of Behich and Germán Ferreyra was rock-solid, with the City skipper particularly impressive in an unfamiliar role at centre-back.
Despite a few late opportunities to put the result beyond doubt, City comfortably saw out the match to claim a well-deserved three points.
What’s next?
City now turns its attention to the third and final Melbourne Derby of the season, set for next Saturday night at AAMI Park. Click here to get your tickets!
