Melbourne City FC will look to string together consecutive wins for the first time this NPL3 season as the team prepares to face North Sunshine Eagles away from home in Round 5 action.
John Maisano’s side should come into the clash in high spirits after pulling off an important win against Ballarat City despite fielding a heavily depleted side that saw six changes made from the week prior.
The Sunday afternoon clash at Parade College was a well-contested where the competing sides were evenly-matched throughout the 90 minutes, though Arion Sulemani’s 27th-minute finish from Harry Politidis’ squared ball proved the difference between the teams.
That result would prove to be an important one, especially with the team so understrength, on a weekend where the early season leaders Preston Lions and Western United both dropped points.
At present, City occupies fourth place as one of three teams tied on seven points.
This weekend, however, the City boys will be taking on the team in sixth when they travel to face North Sunshine Eagles at Larissa Reserve.
The Eagles were able to secure a comprehensive 2-0 victory away from home against Whittlesea Ranges last weekend, with Ryan Stewart and Liam Brian doing the damage either side of half-time.
Brian is one of two Eagles players to have netted twice already this season, leading the way for his team in the goalscoring stakes alongside Jakub Mlcak.
In 2021, City and North Sunshine played out a pair of high-scoring fixtures that went the way of the former, winning 4-2 at home in April and 3-2 away in July.
Central defender Jordan Dellidis will be a welcomed return to the matchday squad as he served his suspension last weekend for a sending-off in City’s Round 3 clash with Western United.
Maisano will continue to be without several key players though, with Max Caputo, Raphael Borges Rodrigues, Kerrin Stokes, Ahmad Taleb and Jordi Valadon all away with the senior squad for the remainder of April for the AFC Champions League.
Match Details
NPL3 Victoria
North Sunshine Eagles FC vs Melbourne City FC
Saturday 16 April, kick-off 3:00pm
Larissa Reserve
Image Credit: Captured By Kas
