Melbourne City has continued our pre-season preparations with a valuable behind-closed-doors friendly against Adelaide United on Tuesday afternoon.
In what was the squad’s first minutes against A-League opposition this pre-season, City showed plenty of positive signs ahead of our AFC Champions League Elite campaign kicking in a fortnight’s time.
Luka Jovanovic opened the scoring for the Reds in the first half, before Andreas Kuen struck in the second to ensure the contest ended all square at 1-1.
Team News
Head Coach Aurelio Vidmar was without a handful of first-team regulars, with goalkeeper Patrick Beach away on international duty and several others sitting out with minor injuries. Nevertheless, City was still able to field a strong starting XI, which featured more than half of the side that lifted the Championship trophy back in May.
The match also marked the first appearance in City colours for new signing Takeshi Kanamori, while fellow recruit Liam Bonetig came off the bench for his debut after Germán Ferreyra was substituted as a precaution following a first-half knock.
Starting XI: 33. Dakota OCHSENHAM (GK), 36. Harry SHILLINGTON, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN, 27. Kai TREWIN, 16. Aziz BEHICH, 39. Emin DURAKOVIC, 30. Andreas KUEN, 7. Mathew LECKIE, 10. Takeshi KANAMORI, 17. Max CAPUTO.
Substitutes: 60. Lachie CHARLES (GK), 4. Liam BONETIG, 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 20. Ben MAZZEO, 37. Peter ANTONIOU, 38. Beckham BAKER, 41. Lawrence WONG, 45. Ryan KALMS, 48. Mathew BAKER, 53. Angus MACKINTOSH, 54. Luke BECVINOVSKI.
What happened?
City began brightly, dictating the tempo and controlling possession in the opening stages. A defensive lapse from Adelaide gifted Max Caputo a sight on goal inside seven minutes, but the young striker blazed his effort over the bar.
The Reds gradually grew into the contest after the quarter-hour mark, enjoying longer spells of possession and forcing City to defend deeper. Ferreyra was a standout at the back, making a series of strong interventions before being forced off after a heavy challenge.
Kuen, meanwhile, looked lively in midfield and constantly troubled the Adelaide defence with his ball carrying. He came close to breaking the deadlock himself midway through the half, winning possession high up the pitch before seeing his strike curl just wide.
Adelaide opened the scoring in the 25th minute, punishing a turnover in midfield. The quick transition ended with Jovanovic swivelling smartly inside the area and firing low past Dakota Ochsenham.
City kept up the tempo though, and pressed for an equaliser before the break. Caputo drew a foul in a dangerous position on the edge of the box, but Kuen’s resulting free-kick was blocked by the wall.
Shortly after, Trewin got forward and unleashed a powerful long-range effort that cannoned off the crossbar, leaving City unlucky to head into the sheds 1-0 down.
Vidmar made a trio of changes at half-time, introducing Ryan Kalms, Zane Schreiber and Beckham Baker. The fresh legs kept City on the front foot, and Schreiber almost made an instant impact when his well-timed run met a Kuen through ball, only to be denied by the goalkeeper.
Behich continued to provide leadership from the back while also driving forward whenever possible, helping to pin Adelaide deeper into their own half.
The pressure finally told in the 74th minute. Kanamori’s went close to scoring himself, but Kuen was perfectly placed to bury the follow-up and level the scores.
Moments later, Vidmar again turned to his Academy contingent, making a raft of substitutions that saw Mathew Baker, Luke Becvinovski, Angus Mackintosh, Ben Mazzeo, Peter Antoniou, Lachie Charles and Lawrence Wong all enter the pitch. Schreiber assumed the captain’s armband following Behich’s withdrawal.
City’s young brigade impressed in the closing stages, showing composure in possession and combining well in the final third.
Mackintosh went close after meeting a Beckham Baker cross, while Wong dazzled with some clever footwork on the edge of the box before bending his strike narrowly wide.
Despite the late chances, the score remained locked at 1-1 at full time.
What’s next?
The hit-out provided Vidmar and his coaching staff with another important opportunity to build match fitness and integrate new faces as City continues its countdown to the AFC Champions League Elite League Stage.
One final behind-closed-doors friendly awaits next week before attention turns to the competitive campaign, with City set to open our ACLE account against Japanese powerhouse Sanfrecce Hiroshima at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Tuesday 12 September.
Ticketing information will be confirmed shortly, with fans encouraged to lock the date into their calendars for what promises to be a huge night of continental football.
