Melbourne City secures an important 2-1 win over Adelaide United
Socceroos, gun internationals and hot young prospects. This is what City Football Group had in mind when it took over in 2014. And it was all on show in a big first up win over Adelaide United.
Melbourne City
Don't miss out on the headlines from Melbourne City. Followed categories will be added to My News.
When City Football Group bought Melbourne Heart in 2014, this is what they had in mind.
Socceroos, gun internationals and hot young prospects led by a coach who adopts an offensive, possession-based style.
Progression was followed by regression over the last two years. But City appears to be back on track, with Sunday night’s vital 2-1 win over Adelaide United the perfect prelude to Wednesday’s FFA Cup final.
Jamie Maclaren fits the Socceroo bill, bagging an impressive brace while Young Socceroos Connor Metcalfe and Ramy Najjarine produced their best games in City colours.
Stream every game of The 2019/20 Hyundai A-League season LIVE & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14 day free trial & start streaming instantly >
It leaves Melbourne Victory lagging behind City and expansion club Western United in the Victorian stakes, in terms of both points and productivity.
CUP PRELUDE
While Erick Mombaerts is in his first season at City, he is conscious of the club’s history of woeful season starts and what momentum can do, as underlined by their run to the Cup final.
City’s win — just the third time it’s won its first home game of the season in 10 campaigns — was key as both teams had an eye on Wednesday’s FFA Cup in their selections, and promoted a high roar from the 7399 fans at the final whistle.
Maclaren was always a first XI lock, but Austrian Richard Windbichler, Rostyn Griffiths and Najjarine completed Mombaerts’ four changes as he balanced the two crucial games in four days.
Curtis Good, Josh Brillante, Javier Cabrera and Adrian Luna all made way, with Brillante, Cabrera and Luna appearing in the second stanza.
Adelaide United owners’ shoestring approach was underlined with just four substitutes named on the bench, despite clubs now being allowed seven.
SOCCEROO AFTERGLOW
City fans sang “Jamie Maclaren, he scores when he wants” and it’s not far off at the moment.
His brace took his City season tally to eight in five games inclusive of the FFA Cup, and 12 in seven once Socceroos are factored in.
His first was the classic goal of a poacher whose confidence is high. Peeling off, Maclaren remained focused to stay onside before controlling it with his thigh and guiding it home with the outside of this right boot.
The kids contributed massively to the goal, with Najjarine playing a key role in the build-up and Metcalfe’s urgency pinning United back, with the teenager’s strike leading to Maclaren’s crumb.
Maclaren appeared to have the ball on a string, as the ball fell perfectly for him just four minutes later, as he displayed his ambidexterity to blast home a left-foot volley.
He had two golden chances to net a third, but was subbed off with 11 minutes left, with fuel and frustration left in the tank — gesturing on the bench after falling agonisingly short of completing his eighth career hat-trick.
RETURN OF THE OTHER MAC
Having played for Melbourne City, Riley McGree has sure caused them a lot of pain.
The semi-final scorpion kick for Newcastle Jets cost City a grand final berth 18 months ago.
And after a frustrating City stint last season that promised so much but was unaided by playing out of position much of the time, Riley McGree returned to haunt his old side.
Playing in his favoured central role, McGree blasted home with his right midway through the second half to surprisingly bring Adelaide back into the contest.
McGree should have equalised moments later, only to blast wide.
With revenge on the menu and Ben Halloran, George Blackwood and Jordan Elsey all a chance to return for Adelaide in the Cup final at Coopers Stadium, it promises to be a cracker.
MELBOURNE CITY 2 (Maclaren 24, 28)
ADELAIDE UNITED 1 (McGree 67)
Crowd: 7399 at AAMI Park
City (4-3-3): Bouzanis; Galloway, Windbichler, Delbridge, Jamieson; Griffiths, Metcalfe, Wales (Brillante 61); Najjarine (Cabrera 46), Noone, Maclaren (Luna 79).
Adelaide (4-2-3-1): Izzo; Abetew (Brook 46), Marrone, Jakobsen, Kitto; D’Arrigo, Lia (Konstandopoulos 71); Maria, McGree, Mileusnic (Toure 71); Opseth.
Referee: Shaun Evans
Red cards: Nil.
DAVUTOVIC’S MAN OF THE MATCH
JAMIE MACLAREN (CITY)
His two predatory goals were the difference and bagging them early helped City conserve energy for Wednesday’s FFA Cup final.