Melbourne City FC continued their pre-season with a 3-0 win over Bentleigh Greens at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex on Tuesday night.
In perfect conditions in Melbourne’s South-East, it took until the 17th minute mark for the game’s first real goal threat. Javier Cabrera picked the ball up on the right wing, before delivering a threatening cross that was volleyed over the crossbar by Jamie Maclaren.
City continued to press forward as Connor Metcalfe and Cabrera utilised the space on the right wing to combine on a number of occasions.
Following a number of half-chances, City took a 1-0 lead on the stroke of half time through Craig Noone. The winger spotted Bentleigh’s goalkeeper off his line, before producing an audacious chip from range to hand Erick Mombaerts’ side the lead.
It took just four minutes for City to double their lead in the second period, as Adrian Luna netted his first goal in City blue. Beginning with Atkinson on the right, the defender crossed the ball into Moudi Najjar before the ball fell to Luna who made no mistake from close range to make it 2-0.
Moments later, Najjar was again involved, striking the keeper’s left upright with a strike from range. City continued to focus on attacking Bentleigh’s defence as the ever-threatening Craig Noone found himself in space within the box. The winger was then taken out while cutting inside, earning his side a spot kick. Najjar stepped up to take the penalty in the 56th minute, but his effort again struck the upright.
With 16 minutes of regulation time remaining, Ramy Najjarine made it 3-0 to put the result beyond doubt. Adrian Luna exposed an open Greens defence, playing Najjarine in one-on-one with the keeper before the youngster showed great composure to slide the ball home.
Match Details
Bentleigh Greens – 0
Melbourne City FC – 3 (45′ Noone, 49′ Luna, 74′ Najjarine)
First XI: Bouzanis, Jamieson, Good, Windbichler, Atkinson, Brillante, Metcalfe, Luna, Noone, Cabrera, Maclaren
Second XI: Glover, Karlic, Griffiths, Windbichler, Atkinson, Genreau, Berenguer, Abdulahi, Najjarine, Najjar and Wales
