Melbourne City suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat in New Zealand on Saturday afternoon, falling to Auckland FC at GO Media Stadium.
It could have been a vastly different afternoon for City, who were denied what appeared to be a clear penalty inside the opening half hour, before conceding on the cusp of half-time. Chasing the game from that point on, we were unable to find a response after the break as Auckland capitalised on their opportunities.
Team News
Aurelio Vidmar made three changes to his most recent starting XI, with Samuel Souprayen, Andreas Kuen and Zane Schreiber all coming into the side.
Germán Ferreyra was managed ahead of Tuesday night’s AFC Champions League Elite Round of 16 first leg, remaining in Melbourne, while Alessandro Lopane did not travel after picking up a knock in training late in the week. He will be further assessed ahead of our continental fixture.
Starting XI: 1. Patrick BEACH (GK), 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 2. Harrison DELBRIDGE, 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN, 16. Aziz BEHICH (C), 8. Ryan TEAGUE, 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 30. Andreas KUEN, 28. Marcus YOUNIS, 14. Daniel ARZANI, 17. Max CAPUTO.
Substitutes: 40. James NIEUWENHUIZEN (GK), 4. Liam BONETIG, 11. Elbasan RASHANI, 35. Medin MEMETI, 36. Harry SHILLINGTON, 39. Emin DURAKOVIC, 47. Kavian RAHMANI.
What happened?
City began brightly and could easily have found an early breakthrough. Kuen nearly forced a dream start by pressing Auckland goalkeeper Michael Woud aggressively, with the shot stopper just doing enough to clear the danger under pressure.
Moments later, Daniel Arzani earned an early corner and from the second phase, delivered a dangerous ball to the back post. Harrison Delbridge rose highest but directed his header straight at Woud, as City continued to dictate terms in the opening exchanges.
Auckland gradually worked its way back into the contest, but Delbridge and Samuel Souprayen stood firm to repel a series of probing attacks. At the other end, a lovely forward pass from Ryan Teague picked out Arzani in the 21st minute, though his strike from the edge of the area sailed narrowly over the bar.
Beach was called into action soon after, producing a strong save to deny Jake Girdwood-Reich through a crowded penalty area.
Aziz Behich then burst forward down the right following a clever pass from Kuen, but a last-ditch intervention prevented Max Caputo from getting a clean attempt on goal.
The game’s pivotal moment came just after the half-hour mark. Kuen’s cross struck the outstretched arm of Callan Elliot inside the box in what appeared to be a clear handball, but despite a VAR review, no penalty was awarded.
City continued to push, with Teague’s corner finding Kuen at the near post in the 36th minute, only for Felipe Gallegos to clear his effort off the line. That pressure ultimately went unrewarded, and Auckland struck against the run of play in the 43rd minute when a turnover in defence allowed Logan Rogerson to head home and give the hosts the lead heading into the break.
We responded with intent after half-time and looked lively in the opening stages of the second period. Behich delivered a dangerous set piece in the 52nd minute that again found Delbridge, but his header was comfortably gathered by Woud.
Despite our positive start to the half, Auckland doubled their advantage in the 59th minute through Jesse Randall in a goal that came against the run of play and proved a major blow. Just seven minutes later, Guillermo May added a third to effectively seal the contest.
While City continued to search for a way back into the match, clear-cut chances proved elusive in the final half hour, and the game finished 3-0 in favour of the hosts.
What’s next?
There is little time to dwell on the result, with our attention quickly turning to a massive AFC Champions League Elite Round of 16 first leg at home against Buriram United on Tuesday night.
We’ll be determined to respond in front of our home fans and take a positive result into the second leg of what promises to be a defining continental tie. Click here to get your tickets.
