Tim Cahill will make his Melbourne City debut as the A-League team takes on the Brisbane Strikers in the FFA Cup. Join The Roar for live scores from the match as well as live updates and a blog of the game, starting from 7:30pm (AEST).
Melbourne City are the clear favourites to take a win in this match, and it’s not hard to see why. There’s a pretty significant gap in quality between the A-League sides and the others who are taking part in the FFA Cup.
That’s even more the case when the A-League side in question is Melbourne City who have just recently signed a superstar player and Australia’s biggest modern football star in Tim Cahill to their list. He’ll play his first game tonight in the start of what will surely be an exciting era for City fans.
City made it through their first FFA Cup game without too much fanfare, winning 2-1 over Floreat Athena FC.
Instead, it was the Strikers who proved the more impressive of the two sides in the opening round, absolutely demolishing Rovers Darwin FC with a 6-0 landslide victory.
Those details aside, City look the stronger side by far, boasting a squad packed with A-League stars, including the biggest one of all.
Cahill will make his debut off the bench, given he’s gone a little while without playing, but will surely have an impact when he comes on.
Prediction
This one is pretty clearly heading in the direction of a comfortable win for City, and there shouldn’t be too many bumps along the road, if any. The Strikers would need a miracle and there’s nothing to suggest they’re going to get it.
Melbourne City to win 3-0.
Join The Roar for live scores from the match as well as live updates and a blog of the game, starting from 7:30pm (AEST).
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
I agree JVS is not the greatest football manager and City would do better by replacing him. But it is the first time these guys have played together especially TC and its pre-season for them, so expect them to get better. The great leveller for the Magic of the FFA Cup is that the NPL teams are fully fit near the end of their season while the A-League teams are still in pre-season and haven't reached full match fitness yet. Makes the games more interesting and exciting. With better finishing the Brisbane Strikers and Hume City could have won.
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
Tim Cahill makes an impact. Sold out game FFA Cup game and huge ratings on Foxtel. Their first home game for the Melbourne Derby on 15 Oct is sure to be a sellout.
BES
Guest
Something of a travesty really - but oh so frustratingly common in football. City were played off the parkt by a far, far better team on the night. Yet who walks away with the points? Strikers were good - very good, I'll admit far better than I expected. City were atrocious! Really, just very very poor. If I were a City fan I would be very concerned. They would have been (even more) totally humiliated by either Perth or Roar based on having watched them play only a week or so back. JVS has a LOT of work to do in not too long a time to turn that rabble into something approaching a competitive team. Oh and if John Aloisi has not signed the Strikers left back by the time I am writing this, then he needs his head read - the boy was sensational! As was old Roar boy Jonti Richter in the first half it must be said. Danced rings around City and played beautiful balls through them time and time again. Brilliant game to watch but oh so frustrating for the local lads who could most assuredly walk off with their heads held high.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
No, JVS has already signalled that this will be his last season here. It couldn't come soon enough.
Paul
Guest
Yep. More shots on target by the Brisbane NPL side. Plus 2 penalties to win. Connor Chapman could have seen red as well. Can't see JvS lasting beyond this season.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
So that defensive formation that JVS has been working on for months certainly showed it worth :( Strikers were good value for money and it took some nifty footwork from Fitzy and Bruce to extract a couple of rash tackles in the box. Bruno did some nice stuff, the Great Dane stood tall and the pitch didn't help either side but this is cup type conditions. Certainly noticed the cheers when Timmy came on. I think he'll have a terrific effect this season.
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining me for this FFA Cup clash and Australian senior debut of Tim Cahill, I hope you enjoyed my coverage. Be sure to join The Roar for all your football coverage in the future. Cheers!
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Heavy favourites Melbourne eek through to the final 8 following a close encounter with Brisbane Strikers. They get away with it 2-1 following a come from behind effort featuring a pair of Bruno Fornaroli penalties. It was a tight start as both sides sought to find and expose the weaknesses in the opposition backline. It was the Strikers who had the first chance though as Clulow picked the pocket of Chapman and looked to be in on goal before having his shirt pulled. Omori exposed the back four once again as Sorensen made a neat save before Weier showed he could perform the same trick from a well hit Fitzgerald strike just minutes later. But it was Brisbane who broke the deadlock as Henslee got on the end of an Omori freekick and headed past Sorensen to break the dead lock. The lead lasted just three minutes however as Nick Fitzgerald slalomed into the box, beating three before being felled by Henslee. The referee wasted no time in pointing to the spot, and Fornaroli made no mistake, beating Weier to his left. The second half started the same way as the first, with a tight end to end affair. The debut of Tim Cahill around the 60 minute mark breathed some life into the match as the crowd cheered the name of the Socceroos' leading goalscorer. Cahill looked fairly off the pace however as he looked to regain some match fitness following 7 weeks without football. It was the City captain Fornaroli however, who proved influential as he converted a penalty earned by some good work by Bruce Kamau to hand his side the lead not 30 seconds after Trent Clulow spurned an opportunity at the other end. City held on from there as they narrowly avoided an upset in the face of a spirited Brisbane Strikers performance. A great showing from the NPL side who showed that the class gap between them and the A-League isn't as wide as many think. At full time, it's Brisbane Strikers 1-2 Melbourne City
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
90+3' One last roll of the dice!! Fraser Hills with the effort! But its straight at Sorensen when Meredith was free at the back stick. Well, that is all she wrote at Perry Park. A valiant effort from NPL side Brisbane Strikers but Melbourne City come out with the victory and march on to the final 8 of the FFA Cup. FULL TIME Brisbane Strikers 1-2 Melbourne City
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
90+2' Strikers caught on the counter but Kamau and Fornaroli can't put a meaningful effort together. 2-1, really not long to go now.
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
90+1' It nearly fell to Brandan there as he looked to give the City fans something to remember about his debut. Strikers head forward now, could they possibly fashion an equaliser late on? 2-1
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Three minutes added time to be played now. Can City hold on?
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
89' Kilkenny moves down the left now and is fouled by Maher in an attempt to slow the City momentum. Just a few minutes left now for City to hang on and avoid becoming the fourth A-League side to be knocked out by NPL opposition. 2-1
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
86' Cahill and Kamau combine as Timmy looks to send a ball back to a teammate but he misses the mark. Perhaps a bit of rustiness for the Socceroo? Its another change now for City as Nick Fitzgerald is replaced by Fernando Brandan. The Strikers also make a substitution now as Sam Knight makes way for Christopher Maher. 2-1 is the score with 4 minutes on the clock.
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Substitution for the Strikers: Captain Michael Angus, who received a yellow card earlier, is replaced by striker Luke Marsh. 2-1
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
84' City go close again!! Fitzgerald back to Brattan who delivers a ball into the front post for Fornaroli who slid to meet it. Its spilled by Weier offering Fornaroli a second bite of the cherry. Its a cheeky backheel from the City captain which is saved and sent wide. 2-1 it remains despite the efforts of Fornaroli.
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
83' Brattan controls the ball down with his head excellently and City head forward down the right. Its switched back however as Muscat controls. 2-1 with 7 minutes to play.
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Agreed. Reckless from the Strikers. Never seen two clearer pens...
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
81' Clarke sends a ball centrally from the right, towards Kamau in the centre. The ball lands well, but its a push from the former Adelaide United winger and the chance is gone. 2-1 as Melbourne City continually breath a sigh of relief.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Both penalties have been the result of horrendous defending. Senseless tackling.