Melbourne City has once again produced late AFC Champions League Elite drama, scoring in stoppage time to secure a thrilling 1-1 draw with Buriram United in the first leg of our Round of 16 tie at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
For the fifth time in this continental campaign, we found the net beyond the 90-minute mark – but not before surviving a heart-in-mouth moment at the other end that could have left the tie slipping away.
A first-half screamer from Bissoli had given the visitors the advantage, yet substitute Ben Mazzeo’s 95th-minute header ensured we head to Thailand next week on level terms. Marcus Younis was again central to the outcome, providing the decisive assist in another standout display.
Team News
Aurelio Vidmar made three changes to the side that featured in Auckland at the weekend, recalling Harry Shillington, Germán Ferreyra and Medin Memeti to the starting XI.
Starting XI: 1. Patrick BEACH (GK), 36. Harry SHILLINGTON, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN, 16. Aziz BEHICH (C), 8. Ryan TEAGUE, 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 30. Andreas KUEN, 28. Marcus YOUNIS, 14. Daniel ARZANI, 35. Medin MEMETI.
Substitutes: 40. James NIEUWENHUIZEN (GK), 2. Harrison DELBRIDGE, 4. Liam BONETIG, 11. Elbasan RASHANI, 17. Max CAPUTO 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 20. Ben MAZZEO, 37. Peter ANTONIOU, 39. Emin DURAKOVIC, 41. Lawrence WONG, 44. Besian KUTLESHI, 47. Kavian RAHMANI.
What happened?
The contest began evenly, with both sides probing without creating a clear breakthrough. City’s build-up play was composed and structured, but the final pass occasionally lacked the precision needed to unlock Buriram’s defence.
A promising opportunity arrived in the 14th minute when neat interplay between Medin Memeti and Andreas Kuen opened a pocket of space inside the area. However, both players hesitated in the decisive moment and were perhaps too unselfish as the chance to test Neil Etheridge went begging.
We continued to edge the territorial battle through the middle stages of the half, winning a series of fouls and set pieces in dangerous positions. Defensively, we looked sound and restricted the visitors to limited openings.
That was until the 37th minute, when Bissoli produced a moment of genuine quality. From a tight angle, the Brazilian striker unleashed a brilliant first-time strike that flew beyond Beach and into the net, handing Buriram a 1-0 lead.
City responded with intent after the break and began to assert greater control. A slick move in the 52nd minute saw Daniel Arzani slip Aziz Behich into space, but from a narrow angle, the skipper’s effort was straight at Etheridge.
Vidmar turned to his bench in the 68th minute, introducing Max Caputo and Kavian Rahmani, and the injection of energy was immediate. Within a minute, a flowing attacking move ended with Younis sliding a ball across the face of goal for Arzani, who was unable to turn his close-range effort on target.
Elbasan Rashani joined the action in the 78th minute as we continued to push numbers forward, entering dangerous areas but still searching for the decisive touch.
Then came a dramatic twist in the 94th minute.
With City committed forward, Buriram broke quickly and Bissoli surged into the box. As Behich and Patrick Beach converged, the attacker went tumbling to the turf and, amid the chaos, the referee initially appeared to signal for a penalty. With the prospect of a 2-0 deficit looming, confusion spread across the stadium.
After a tense delay and consultation, the actual decision became clear. Bissoli was shown a yellow card for simulation, and City was awarded a goal kick instead of conceding a spot kick. It proved to be a pivotal moment.
From that very restart, we launched the move that would change the complexion of the tie.
Deep into stoppage time, Nathaniel Atkinson drove forward down the right and fed Rahmani, who produced a clever flick into the path of Younis. Already influential throughout the night, the winger skipped past defenders and lifted a perfectly weighted cross to the back post. Mazzeo, introduced just minutes earlier, rose highest to power a header beyond Etheridge and spark celebrations.
What’s next?
City will now travel to Thailand for the decisive return leg at Buriram Stadium next Tuesday night. With the aggregate score locked at one apiece, a place in the AFC Champions League Elite Quarter Finals remains firmly within reach.
Kick-off is set for 11:15pm (AEDT), live on Paramount+.
