Melbourne City FC will hope to extend its strong start to the 2022 NPL3 season when it hosts Geelong SC at home on Saturday afternoon.
Amidst an incredibly competitive campaign thus far, John Maisano’s side is one of four teams tied on 10 points at the top of the table, with Western United, Preston Lions and Melbourne Victory also sharing our 3-1-1 record.
The City boys were able to make the most of United and Preston’s dropping of points against current bottom four sides Springvale White Eagles and Nunawading FC respectively, pulling off a confidence-boosting 2-0 away win over North Sunshine Eagles.
Maisano’s side continues to be severely undermanned with seven members of his squad away with City’s first team for its AFC Champions League campaign, but that didn’t stop the team from holding out long enough for Nick Epifano’s game-changing sending-off in the 76th minute.
Moonib Adus and Emin Durakovic were the heroes for City from there, with the pair both scoring in a dramatic stoppage-time period to seal all three points for their side.
The City boys will be hoping to come away with another vital set of three points this weekend when they host Geelong SC at Parade College on Sunday afternoon.
Already the lowest-scoring team in the league, player-Coach Jake Butler’s side won’t have taken any confidence from its 2-1 away loss to Whittlesea Ranges FC over the weekend: a result that adds another defeat to its current 2-0-3 record to start the new campaign.
It proved to be a costly occasion for Geelong even beyond the scoreline, with substitute Ali Khameesi getting sent off for a second yellow card offence in the 87th minute.
With this weekend’s opposition having netted just three goals in five games this season, the City boys will be looking to Sunday’s clash as an opportunity to ride the momentum of two consecutive clean sheets, hoping to claim a third on the way to another vital three points at home.
Match Details
NPL3 Victoria
Melbourne City FC vs Geelong SC
Saturday 24 April, kick-off 3:00pm
Parade College
Image Credit: Captured By Kas
