Melbourne City has played out its second Y-League draw in a row, with its clash against Adelaide United finishing 0-0 at CB Smith Reserve on Sunday afternoon.
Starting XI
Both sides fielded very young teams with City’s starting 11 having an average age of just over 17. Captain Joe Gauci took his place in goal with Akok Arok, Alec Mills and Daniel Lucente the defenders in front of him. Emile Peios and Mark Karlic were the full-backs while Luke Oresti and Jordi Valadon were both named in midfield. Samuel Morrison was the lone striker with Giovanniliam Stellitano and Raphael Borges Rodrigues on the wings.
What happened?
The opening 45 minutes were quite tame with both sides happy to be patient and control possession.
Despite having not much to do for the rest of the first game, Gauci got called into action twice in the eighth minute.
He made a nice reflex save low to his right to deny the Reds an opener before also doing well just 10 seconds later, again making a save to his right.
City defended valiantly with Mills and Arok leading the way, ensuring there was no way through for United.
Two substitutions were made by City at half-time with Harry Politidis and Mitchell Graham both coming on to try and provide a spark and create some chances.
The second half would follow much the same pattern as the first with genuine chances hard to come by for either side.
It was a game dominated by midfield with not much action in the front third for either team.
Politidis had a chance to break the deadlock in the 80th minute, after he picked the ball up on the halfway line and drove forward before unleashing a shot from outside the box that flew just wide of the post.
Just eight minutes later Morrison had City’s best chance of the game.
The striker turned on a dime inside the box before firing a powerful shot towards the top corner, but United keeper Cameron Cook pulled off an outstanding save to ensure the points would be split.
What’s next?
City will be back in action next Sunday afternoon when it takes on Melbourne Victory in the youth derby at Epping Stadium, before finishing its season away to Perth a week later.