Football is back! Your City boys will be getting their league title defence underway with a huge season opener against Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park on Friday night and we can hardly wait!
It’s going to be a massive fixture as City return to AAMI Park for the first time since becoming Champions in June. Tickets are still on sale via Ticketek, and if you haven’t already got yours, click here to grab them now!
Here’s how the teams shape up heading into the fixture.
Melbourne City FC has had a strong build-up to lead into tonight’s clash, going undefeated in our three-game pre-season friendly series against Western United before progressing to the FFA Cup Round of 16 thanks to a 0-3 away win over South Melbourne last Friday.
City dominated the contest against their Cup opponents, enjoying 82.3% of possession and recording 24 shots to 6.
Our stranglehold over the game was especially apparent in the first half, despite only netting one goal in the opening 45 minutes. It was through Connor Metcalfe that South’s resistance was initially broken in the 23rd, with the midfielder ghosting into the six-yard box to find the back of the net from Nathaniel Atkinson’s fizzed ball across the area from the right.
Despite more goals seeming likely, it wasn’t until the 66th minute that City extended its lead, this time through Scott Galloway. The full-back capitalised on an intelligent backheel flick into the box by Atkinson, with Galloway able to latch onto the rolling ball and thump it into the back of the net.
It was another Galloway near-post finish that sealed the deal for City just seven minutes later and again following an assist from Atkinson, who finished the night with three. This time, the veteran full-back was able to arrive late to squeeze Atkinson’s cutback from the byline between South’s keeper and the right-hand upright.
The City boys will take confidence from the positive result so close to their A-League season opener and will look to maintain the momentum when they come up against Brisbane Roar later tonight.
The Roar have also enjoyed a positive start to their 2021/22 competitive season, having already progressed to the FFA Cup Quarter Finals thanks to comfortable wins over Peninsula Power and Lions FC in the preceding rounds.
Cyrus Dehmie starred in Roar’s 4-0 win over Lions FC in the Round of 16, with the 19-year-old bagging himself a hattrick in a bid to compete with new signing Juan Lescano for Roar’s starting striker spot, although the later has been ruled out of this fixture due to injury.
Filling the void up top will be vital for the Roar’s fortunes in 2021/22, with the scorers of 75% of their goals last season having departed the club over the off-season. The ability of new recruits Lescano, who scored in the Round of 32, and Nikola Mileusnic to hit the ground running will be key for recuperating some of that lost goalscoring prowess.
City may be able to welcome back Socceroos Mathew Leckie, Jamie Maclaren and Andrew Nabbout for the season opener, with the trio all in contention having returned from international duties.
The game may also be a first opportunity for fans to catch new signing Manuel Pucciarelli in action, with the Italian also in contention to start having missed our FFA Cup Round of 32 fixture.
City boasts an incredible home record against the Roar, having never failed to score in these fixtures and not having lost against Brisbane at AAMI Park since November 2010.
Match Details
Izuzu UTE A-League Round 1
Melbourne City FC vs Brisbane Roar FC
Friday 19 November, kick-off 7:45pm
AAMI Park
Click here to get your tickets!
