A youthful Melbourne City side has bowed out of the 2025 Australia Cup following a 2-0 defeat to APIA Leichhardt at a rain-soaked Leichhardt Oval on Wednesday night.
With an average age of just 17.6, City had 10 debutants in a night full of valuable experience for the Club’s emerging talent.
Despite the result, there were promising signs as the next generation got a taste of senior football.
Team News
With pre-season only commencing earlier this month, Aurelio Vidmar looked to many of the Club’s future stars in his Round of 32 match day squad.
Some of City’s brightest academy talents were set to make their senior debuts, with six fresh faces named in the starting XI, including Lachie Charles, Beckham Baker, Mathew Baker, Ryan Kalms, Marcus Humbert and Angus Mackintosh.
What happened?
In wet conditions at Leichhardt Oval, a youthful Melbourne City side, with an average age of just 17.6, showed promising signs despite falling 2-0 to APIA Leichhardt in the Australia Cup Round of 32.
City made a bright start to the match, with Zane Schreiber testing the goalkeeper from range inside three minutes. Aurelio Vidmar’s side continued to find space in wide areas, with Mathew Baker combining nicely on the left before picking out Beckham Baker, whose shot lacked the power to trouble the keeper.
City’s best chance of the first half came through Max Caputo, played in behind by a superb ball from Marcus Humbert, only to be denied by a sharp save.
Despite their encouraging start, City fell behind in the 27th minute to a composed finish from Seiya Kambayashi, and were fortunate not to concede again shortly before the break when a long-range effort rattled the crossbar.
Lachie Charles, on debut between the sticks, produced a stellar first-half display, where he was quick off his line and made a number of sharp saves.
City came out strong in the second half and nearly levelled the score just seven minutes after the restart.
A pinpoint cross from Kavian Rahmani found Beckham Baker inside the area, but the forward fired his close-range effort over the bar. Moments later, Harrison Shillington almost forced an own goal with a dangerous low cross that trickled inches past the post.
Shillington was then called into action defensively at the other end, making a vital block to deny a clear chance, before Lachie Charles again kept City in it with an outstanding diving save.
In the 60th minute, Vidmar turned to his bench, introducing Akeem Gerald, who made Club history by becoming City’s youngest ever debutant at just 15 years and 179 days.
He was joined by fellow debutants Xavier Stella, Peter Antoniou and Aaron Cartwright, capping off a night where 10 players made their senior debuts, including six from the starting XI.
Despite the injection of fresh legs, APIA would double their lead in the 79th minute through Jack Stewart, who found the bottom corner with a precise finish that left Charles with little chance.
City continued to push late, and almost found a response through Kavian Rahmani, whose glancing header from a set piece sailed just over the bar.
Despite suffering a disappointing Cup exit, it was a performance that offered valuable experience for a number of players in City’s Academy.
