Melbourne City FC will begin its 2022 NPL3 campaign when it hosts Doveton SC at Parade College in Round 1 action.
City’s Youth team finished fifth in a heavily disrupted and ultimately shortened 2021 season and will look to improve on that in 2022.
John Maisano’s side has been set a difficult task to open the new season, with City hosting last year’s league runners-up Doveton SC.
Our Round 1 opposition was unlucky not to be crowned 2021 Premiers after finishing equal on points with Preston Lions, but Doveton’s vastly inferior goal difference of +5 was ultimately the difference, with Preston boasting a +20 figure.
City and Doveton met twice in 2021 with some surprising results given the final ladder positions of either team. On both occasions, the former was able to put four goals past the latter, with the final scorelines reading as 4-0 and 4-1 wins in City’s favour. Max Caputo and Lucas Byrns scored in both encounters.
Caputo, who finished equal-first in the NPL3 Golden Boot race last year, is just one of a number of familiar faces that fans can expect to see competing under Maisano this year. Taras Gomulka, Kerrin Stokes, Jordan Bos and Raphael Borges Rodrigues all have recent experience at A-League Men level and will look to continue their development as players in the NPL3 competition whilst they await their next senior appearance.
Match Details
NPL3 Victoria
Melbourne City FC vs Doveton SC
Saturday 19 March, kick-off 3:00pm
Parade College, Bundoora
