Melbourne City had to settle for a share of the points on Tuesday night at AAMI Park, drawing 1-1 with Macarthur despite controlling large periods of the contest.
A stunning first-half free kick from captain Aziz Behich gave City a deserved early lead, but the visitors responded just ten minutes later. Despite sustained pressure, territorial dominance and a flurry of late chances, City were unable to find a second goal as the points were ultimately split.
Team News
With just three days separating the Christmas Derby and Tuesday night’s clash, Aurelio Vidmar made a single change to his starting XI.
Liam Bonetig was rewarded for an impressive defensive cameo off the bench on Saturday, coming into the starting side and allowing Kai Trewin to shift forward into a defensive midfield role. The adjustment added extra control in the middle of the park, with Trewin joining Emin Durakovic and Andreas Kuen in a physically demanding midfield battle.
Starting XI: 1. Patrick BEACH (GK), 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 4. Liam BONETIG, 16. Aziz BEHICH (C), 27. Kai TREWIN, 39. Emin DURAKOVIC, 30. Andreas KUEN, 10. Takeshi KANAMORI, 11. Elbasan RASHANI, 17. Max CAPUTO.
Substitutes: 33. Dakota OCHSENHAM (GK), 15. Andrew NABBOUT, 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 35. Medin MEMETI, 37. Peter ANTONIOU, 38. Beckham BAKER, 44. Besian KUTLESHI.
What happened?
The opening exchanges were typically physical, with City setting the tone early through our intensity and ball retention. Vidmar’s side enjoyed close to two-thirds of the possession in the opening stages and registered the first four shots of the contest, using our midfield structure to dictate the tempo and pin Macarthur deep in their own half.
That pressure eventually told when Takeshi Kanamori was brought down in a dangerous central position. Still feeling the effects of the foul, Kanamori stepped aside and Behich took responsibility. The City skipper produced a moment of real quality, unleashing a sublime left-footed strike that thundered in off the underside of the crossbar to give us a deserved lead.
Macarthur, however, responded swiftly. A turnover in midfield allowed the visitors to transition quickly, and with City momentarily exposed, Rafael Duran found space inside the box to turn home the equaliser just ten minutes after the opener. The remainder of the half remained finely balanced, with City enjoying more of the ball but unable to carve out a clear-cut chance before the break.
The second half began with Macarthur threatening on the counter, and Patrick Beach was required to produce a brilliant reflex save in the 55th minute to deny Harry Sawyer at close range. That moment proved pivotal, keeping the scores level as City began to reassert our dominance.
Vidmar turned to his bench on the hour mark, introducing Andrew Nabbout, Medin Memeti and Zane Schreiber in a triple change. It was a significant milestone for Nabbout, who made his 200th A-League appearance, and the experienced forward immediately added energy to City’s attacking play.
We came agonisingly close moments later when a neat one-two between Schreiber and Behich opened up space on the left, but Macarthur scrambled well to clear before Nabbout could apply the finishing touch. The pressure continued to build, with Nabbout then seeing a goalbound effort blocked before Nathaniel Atkinson’s powerful half-volley was parried away by Filip Kurto.
City almost had the breakthrough in the 85th minute when Behich surged inside and forced a save that fell invitingly for Nabbout, only for the assistant’s flag to cut short the celebrations with the forward just offside. Memeti then headed narrowly wide from a cleverly worked corner late on as City piled forward in search of a winner.
Despite throwing everything at the contest in the closing stages, City were unable to find a way through, with the match ultimately ending level after a dominant but frustrating second half.
What’s next?
City will enjoy a slightly longer turnaround before returning to action this weekend, with attention now turning to a Sunday clash against Perth Glory on December 28.
That fixture will once again form part of a doubleheader at AAMI Park, rounding out a busy festive period and City’s final matches of 2025, with tickets on sale now.
