Looking to build a bit of form as the final third of the season approaches, Melbourne City’s senior NPL side will look to make it three games unbeaten this Saturday evening when they welcome NPL2 Western Conference side Brunswick City to the Veneto Club.
Looking to back-up a 1-1 draw with Langwarrin SC that snapped a seven-game losing run, City raced out to a two-goal lead against Murray United last week; scholarship striker Moudi Najjar netting a first-half brace on the border.
However, subsequent goals to Murray United’s Tom Youngs and Archie Thompson dragged the game back to an equilibrium heading into the rooms at half time.
Though both sides had their chances to find a winner in the second half, neither were able to do so; ensuring the points were shared at the Albury-Wodonga Campus of La Trobe University.
That point was not enough to drag City off the bottom of the NPL2 Eastern Conference table heading into round 19, but it does mean that City can leapfrog ninth-placed Springvale White Eagles and eighth-placed Box Hill United with a win on Saturday evening.
Reflecting on recent results, NPL Head Coach Petr Kratky said that he was pleased with the growth shown from his side and was looking forward to the rest of the season.
This week’s opponents Brunswick City come Saturday on a high; having claimed the highly prized scalp of NPL2 Western Conference highflyers Werribee City last week.
Making the trip out to Galvin Park, The Spartans took the lead three minutes after the second half restart in that contest when winger Matt Murphy struck for the fifth time this season.
Brunswick has won two, lost two and drawn once in their last five hit outs; adding a win over Langwarrin to their victory over Werribee, drawing with Box Hill and going down to North Geelong and FC Bulleen Lions.
City and Brunswick last met in round 11 of the 2018 NPL2 season. On that day, goals to Moudi Najjar and Zac Bates fired City to a 2-1 win over the hosting Brunswick, now Melbourne Victory youth Stefan Ristic grabbing the goal for The Spartans.
City and Brunswick’s senior XIs are set to meet at 6 pm at the Veneto Club this Saturday, with the club’s two U20 sides slated to kick off in a curtain raiser at 4 pm.
Match Details:
NPL Victoria – NPL2 Round Nineteen
Saturday, 29 June 2019
Melbourne City FC v Brunswick City FC
Venue: David Barro Stadium, Veneto Club, Bulleen, Melbourne
Kick-off: U20s – 4 pm | Seniors 6 pm
