A-League: Melbourne City tough it out to keep Perth Glory scoreless

One thing is certain … Sydney FC players would have slept well overnight after tuning into the dour draw between their immediate threats to winning this year’s championship.

Coach Tony Popovic after the 1-all draw at AAMI Park.

A-League leaders Sydney FC won’t be quaking in their boots after Saturday night’s battle for second, but both sides will take a point from the high quality, low-risk affair.

Melbourne City’s scoreless draw with Perth Glory leaves them two points ahead of the rapidly improving WA side.

Ex City hero Bruno Fornaroli was predictably involved in the game’s most controversial moment at AAMI Park, which correctly involved VAR intervention.

Watch every 2019/20 Westfield W-League game LIVE & On-Demand on KAYO. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

City only have themselves to blame for awakening the sleeping giant Glory seven weeks ago in the 3-0 loss — Tony Popovic’s teams’ first clean sheet of the season — and City coach Erick Mombaerts was satisfied after focusing on the defence.

“It’s a good start today against Perth — a clean sheet, we were strong. I want to congratulate our team on our defensive performance,” Mombaerts said.

“It was a very tough game — two good teams. We had to adapt with two new players. We can improve.”

Markel Susaeta showed promise in his first start for the home side.

MID-SEASON SIGNINGS

Markel Susaeta, a legend with Spanish top flight club Athletic Bilbao, was surprisingly thrown in for his first start and showed promise considering his lack of football in the last eight months (three appearances).

Likened to Diego Castro by City insiders, Susaeta’s intelligence, movement and technique is high level.

His body, however, could not maintain the intensity for the entire match. Susaeta looms as a key impact man in the run home.

While Uruguayan Javier Cabrera departed to make way for Susaeta last week, his countryman was immense.

Adrian Luna’s all-round midfield display was impressive — perhaps his best performance of the season — and he has clearly adapted better to Australia than his homesick pal.

Ex Celtic stopper Jack Hendry was solid as a rock on debut with Harrison Delbridge moving to right-back for added defensive surety.

Nathaniel Atkinson and Glory’s Neil Kilkenny contest the ball.

BRUNO’S BACK II

It was Fornaroli’s second City homecoming and second half trickery had City on the back foot.

Referee Daniel Elder pointed to the penalty spot when Josh Brillante hacked down Fornaroli. But VAR correctly intervened when Fornaroli was clearly offside.

Foraroli was not as impactful or emotional as his last match here, but he is getting sharper with every outing and will clearly add to his eight goals.

The incident: Joshua Brillante collides with Bruno Fornaroli.

CAN ANYONE BEAT SYDNEY FC?

City and Glory are best placed to challenge the Sky Blues, and they will take heart from Saturday night, while knowing they each must improve, especially in attack.

Glory has swept all before it, since their last meeting, keeping another four clean sheets in five games, while blasting home 15 goals while climbing up to third.

“We’re happy. Away from home, consecutive tough games. Good away point,” Popovic said.

MORE FOOTBALL

CELEBRITY SHOOTOUT: HOLLYWOOD STAR’S STUNNING SAVE

SNAKE ALERT: FORMER VICTORY STAR WATCHES HIS STEP

MELBOURNE CITY 0

PERTH GLORY 0

Crowd: 6103 at AAMI Park

City (4-3-3): Bouzanis; Delbridge, Hendry, Good, Jamieson; Brillante, Luna (Galloway 90), Berenguer (Griffiths 90s); Noone, Susaeta (Atkinson 73), Maclaren.

Glory (3-4-1-2): Reddy; Wuthrich, Mrcela, Grant; Kim (Tratt 90), Brimmer, Kilkenny, Meredith (Franjic 73); Castro; Chianese (Ingham 81), Fornaroli.

Referee: Daniel Elder

Red cards: Nil.

DAVUTOVIC’S MAN OF THE MATCH: ADRIAN LUNA (CITY)

The intelligent Uruguayan was everywhere, and created plenty in his industrious display without neglecting his defensive duties.

Originally published as A-League: Melbourne City tough it out to keep Perth Glory scoreless