Melbourne City claimed all three points in a dramatic Friday night clash at AAMI Park, overcoming Brisbane Roar 3-2 thanks to a late header from Germán Ferreyra.
After trailing at half-time, a dominant second-half performance saw Marco Tilio and Max Caputo hit the scoreboard before Ferreyra’s 85th-minute winner sent the City fans into raptures.
Team News
Aurelio Vidmar made one forced change to the starting XI following Samuel Souprayen’s calf injury, with Callum Talbot coming into the side and captain Aziz Behich shifting centrally in defence.
Mathew Leckie returned from injury and was named among the substitutes, alongside the likes of Yonatan Cohen and Steven Ugarkovic, who had also recently returned to the squad.
Starting XI: 33. Patrick BEACH (GK), 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 16. Aziz BEHICH (C), 2. Callum TALBOT, 27. Kai TREWIN, 21. Ale LOPANE, 30. Andreas KUEN, 23. Marco TILIO, 35. Medin MEMETI, 17. Max CAPUTO.
Substitutes: 60. Lachie CHARLES (GK), 6. Steven UGARKOVIC, 7. Mathew LECKIE, 10. Yonatan COHEN, 38. Harry POLITIDIS, 41. Lawrence WONG, 47. Kavian RAHMANI.
What happened?
The match got off to a scrappy start with both sides struggling to establish rhythm. City began to control the tempo but it was Brisbane who struck first against the run of play.
Asumah Abubakar-Ankra finished off a counterattack in the 20th minute, and while the assistant referee initially flagged for offside, VAR overturned the call and the goal stood.
From there, City dominated proceedings with Ale Lopane and Tilio particularly influential, yet despite seven shots to one and 66% possession, we couldn’t find an equaliser before the break.
Vidmar made a tactical switch at half-time, introducing Steven Ugarkovic and pushing Trewin back into defence. The response was immediate.
City nearly equalised through Caputo in the opening moments before Tilio took matters into his own hands in the 58th minute—bringing down a Ferreyra ball with a deft touch and slotting home after a mazy run.
Just three minutes later, Tilio was involved again, combining with Caputo who pounced on a rebound to smash home and give City the lead.
Brisbane would hit back shortly after through a deflected effort from Keegan Jelacic, but City refused to be denied.
Memeti came close in the 72nd minute with a thunderous header off the crossbar before the moment of the night arrived.
Yonatan Cohen delivered a pinpoint corner to the near post in the 85th minute, where Germán Ferreyra rose highest to nod home his first goal for the Club—and ultimately secure a hard-earned win.
What’s next?
City heads north next week to face Western Sydney Wanderers in another pivotal fixture in the race for Finals.
