Melbourne City continued its perfect start to the Foxtel National Youth League on Saturday as a sole Daniel Arzani goal secured the result for the home side.
Starting XI
What happened
It was a cold and windy CB Smith Reserve on Saturday morning as Melbourne City continued their perfect start to the season against an experienced Perth Glory side.
None of last week’s senior-listed players lined up for City as our young brigade went up the likes of Mitch Oxborrow, Arryn Williams and Joel Chianese in the Glory line up.
This didn’t faze Joe Palatsides’ side as City were able to maintain the high tempo set in the early stages of the match, playing their way through Perth’s press high up the park.
Connor Metcalf was first to try his luck on the Perth goal as a wonderful bit of play saw the midfielder played back a ball to the top of the area after 8 minutes. His effort lacked the punch to beat Jordan Thurtell in the Perth goal but set the tone for the rest of the match.
City continued to push in the first half and were rewarded after 31 minutes. A wonderful through ball by Gerrie Sylaidos saw Daniel Arzani beat his defender up the bar line, somehow finding the gap at Thurtell’s near post to thread the deserved opener.
Perth’s best chance of the match fell on the stroke of half time as a thunderous set piece from Joseph Knowles rocketed off the crossbar and away to safety, leaving City custodian Yaren Sozer rooted to his spot.
The scare sparked City into action in the second half and almost found their second through Austin Wong. A dangerous cut back from Sylaidos after 53 minutes saw Thurtell parry back into the middle of the penalty area as Wong could only guide his effort into the body of the Perth ‘keeper.
Perth had shouts for a penalty waved away after 62 minutes as Knowles went down in the area but after the scare, it was all City until the final moments of the match.
A second yellow to influential midfielder Denis Genreau saw the youngster given his marching orders, opening the door for Mitch Oxborrow to have the final chance of the match.
It was another powerful drive from Perth on goal that saw Sozer spring into action as the keeper made sure City would maintain their perfect start to the season.
Man of the Match
Ruon Tongyik was a rock in the City defence on Saturday and the centre back showed just why he was one of the best players in the Foxtel National Youth League last season.
The defender was put up against the experienced combination of Jamal Reiners and Joel Chianese and Tongyik stood up to the task both in a defensive sense and as part of the build up at the back.
What’s next
City will look to make it four in a row next Saturday as they take on Brisbane Roar at AJ Kelly Field in Brisbane, kick-off 3.00pm
