Melbourne City v Sydney FC: Two title hopefuls play out pulsating draw at AAMI Park

MELBOURNE City coach John van’t Schip claimed on the eve of Saturday’s match that their games can no longer be dubbed ‘boring’ and the Sydney FC clash was living proof.

Melbourne City players celebrate scoring a goal against Sydney FC in round 13 of the A-League at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2015. (AAP Image/Julian Smith) NO ARCHIVING

MELBOURNE City coach John van’t Schip claimed on the eve of last night’s match that their games can no longer be dubbed ‘boring’ and the Sydney FC clash was living proof.

Star visa attackers Harry Novillo and Bruno Fornaroli sparked City’s revival but Milos Ninkovic twice equalised for gutsy Sydney FC in a pulsating clash at AAMI Park.

A late piece of Novillo magic almost secured three points for City in the 90th minute but in the end they were happy with one as keeper Thomas Sorensen produced a brilliant save from Chris Naumoff as Shane Smeltz skied it.

It ensured the teams remain deadlocked on 21 points, though City is ahead on goal difference, and last night showed why as they scored as many goals with less than half the chances.

The 10,140 AAMI Park crowd was respectable for City, though the 80,000 that turned up across the road at the MCG should set off alarm bells at FFA HQ.

City's Bruno Fornaroli jumps into the arms of Harry Novillo after they combined for City's 2nd goal. Picture: Colleen Petch.

City had absolutely no right to go into halftime ahead, as they were completely dishevelled after the late withdrawals of influential trio Aaron Mooy, Ivan Franjic and Erik Paartalu.

They did and the great irony was that Aaron Hughes, who was as rusty as an old tin bucket in the first half, put City ahead.

Sydney FC had 10 chances before City’s opener, primarily falling to teen striker George Blackwood and Andrew Hoole, but their failure to capitalise — and Sorensen’s handy glovework — was punished.

Van’t Schip was so concerned he made a change 11 minutes before halftime, withdrawing teen debutant Ali Eyigun for Michael Zullo and switching from a 4-2-3-1 to a 3-5-2.

The tweak paid off within two minutes as Novillo, who was shifted from left-wing to striker alongside Bruno Fornaroli, beat two players and forced a top save from keeper Vedran Janjetovic.

However City scored from the resulting corner, as Novillo’s quality dipping cross was headed home by Hughes for an undeserved lead.

Milos Ninkovic of Sydney celebrates.

City’s change, which saw Zullo deployed as a left wingback and Mauk tucking in from the right wing, saw City stabilise and regain control, and they persisted with it in the second half.

City’s three-pronged blow before kick-off saw Mooy (ribs), Paartalu (groin) and Franjic (corked thigh) ruled out and Eyigun started in place of Paartalu.

But he and Melling were outnumbered in midfield as Matt Millar was copping a bath at right-back from Hoole leaving the defence under siege. The change redressed the balance.

After a frenetic first half, the game assumed some kind of normality in the second and Graham Arnold’s side benefited.

Brandon O’Neill dispossessed Zullo and a neat triangle between Blackwood, Filip Holosko and Ninkovic ended with the latter tucking away a neat backheel from close range.

City’s dynamic attacking duo combined again as Novillo tore down the right wing and dinked a clever high cross in for Fornaroli, who expertly rose and headed past Janjetovic for his 11th goal of the season.

Hughes and Patrick Kisnorbo had chances from a corner before Robert Koren and Zullo both sent glorious one on one chances wide.

It prompted a 73rd minute double sub from Arnold, with experienced duo Smeltz and Milos Dimitrijevic replacing Blackwood and O’Neill.

It worked, as Holosko centred Alex Gersbach’s high cross and Ninkovic rose above Hughes to head home.

City then lost battering ram Melling — who could’ve given away a first half penalty for a risky tackle on Blackwood _ to a leg injury in the 81st minute, with Jason Trifiro coming on.

Either side could’ve still won it. Just or not, it was highly entertaining.

Originally published as Melbourne City v Sydney FC: Two title hopefuls play out pulsating draw at AAMI Park