Melbourne City FC has bounced back with a 3-0 home win against Newcastle Jets in A-League Men action on Friday night. Jamie Maclaren opened the scoring for the home side, before Mathew Leckie and Carl Jenkinson piled on the goals in the second half.
Starting XI
Amidst a busy schedule, Patrick Kisnorbo made three changes to the starting XI to keep his side fresh, introducing Nuno Reis, Rostyn Griffiths and Mathew Leckie to the lineup. Curtis Good, Scott Jamieson and Connor Metcalfe were the ones to miss out, with Jamieson missing from the matchday squad due to injury sustained midweek against Adelaide.
What happened?
The City boys started strongly, with Andrew Nabbout and Jamie Maclaren particularly lively early. It was through the former’s driving run towards the penalty area that created City’s first big chance, with the ball spilling out to Marco Tilio, who flashed his shot narrowly past the upright.
Florin Berenguer came close with a curling effort in the 37th, but this looked like being the only other significant chance that City would have despite a fast-paced, entertaining first half.
Fortunately, City’s mercurial #9 had something to say about that. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Maclaren would capitalise on a dangerous aerial cross from Berenguer to find the back of the net with an intelligent flick across the keeper to hand City the one-goal lead heading into the break.
It was Olivier Boumal who would see the first chance of the second period. The Cameroonian was clipped in behind the City backline in the 49th and cut inside onto his left, but his dipping shot had too much power on it and narrowly flashed over the crossbar.
Any momentum the Jets had gained would be quickly and comprehensively cut out in a fortunate two-minute spell for City from the 52nd. The boys were able to get their second thanks to a brilliant individual run by Tilio into the area that culminated in a pass to Leckie in space, with the winger burying his shot with composure.
Not long after, things would go from bad to worse for the Jets as centre-back Taylor Regan was sent off for a second yellow card offence.
It was all City from there, with Carl Jenkinson joining the party in the 62nd when he strode wide into the area to latch onto an intelligent release pass and buried his shot into the bottom left corner.
The mood was upbeat both on and off the pitch at AAMI as the City boys then comfortably saw out the remainder of the 90 minutes to hold on for a 3-0 win.
What’s next?
It’ll be another quick turnaround for the City boys, who are next in action on Tuesday night against Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park. Click here to get your tickets!
