A-League Men champions Melbourne City have fought past a gallant South Melbourne to seal a 3-0 win and a ticket to the FFA Cup round of 16.
A crowd of 4291 packed Lakeside Stadium for former NSL powerhouse South’s first FFA Cup round of 32 appearance since 2017.
But Connor Metcalfe’s 23rd-minute goal and Scott Galloway’s second-half brace ensured City’s first competitive match since June’s grand final triumph ended in victory, a week out from their season opener against Brisbane Roar.
“It was professional, we created some good chances, we controlled the game really well,” coach Patrick Kisnorbo told reporters.
“It’s about the minutes today and getting everyone through pretty much unscathed and I think we did that tonight.
“I was just happy with the professional performance that we showed and the attitude by the players for 90 minutes.”
(Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
City were commanding from the outset against the NPL club and peppered South’s goal without reward for the opening 20 minutes, with the highlight a long-range effort from skipper Scott Jamieson that just curled off target.
South defended resolutely but their resistance could only hold out for so long.
In the 23rd minute Galloway slipped through Nathaniel Atkinson, who cut the ball back to Metcalfe to slot a well-worked opening goal
City maintained their dominance throughout the opening half, controlling the bulk of possession, but failed to capitalise on the scoreboard.
South Melbourne, who hadn’t played a competitive match since their NPL season was brought to a premature end by Victoria’s COVID-19 lockdown in July, were lively out of the break and were inches away from equalising in the 53rd minute.
Marcus Schroen’s brilliant curling free kick brought the crowd to their feet and forced Olyroos goalkeeper Tom Glover to pull off a brilliant fingertip save to stop the ball nestling in the top corner.
The scare jolted City into action and in the 66th minute, Aiden O’Neill worked a clever through-ball past the South defence for Galloway, who smashed home City’s second from a tight angle.
Seven minutes later, Florin Berenguer picked out a surging Atkinson, who cut the ball back for Galloway to slot his second and seal the victory.
City’s starting line-up featured nine of the 11 starting players from June’s grand final victory.
Andrew Nabbout, who came off the bench for the Socceroos on Thursday night before being dropped from Graham Arnold’s squad on Friday afternoon, was originally named a substitute, but pulled out shortly before the game.
Tigertown
Guest
South Melbourne had a “Forever Loyal” banner stretched over empty seats at the end of the match. Possibly a slight stab at Western United’s “Forever West” signage. Forever drama with SMFC. I’m glad City gave them a whipping. Whip it good!
Stevo
Roar Rookie
“wondering what that comet thing is“ Gold :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
Don't hold back Waz, tell us what you think.... LOL Like you, I think they belong in the past, there is no place for them in the current set up. Same goes for all old NSL clubs. Thank you for what you did back then, but we have all moved on.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
Fisherman
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
Personally I dislike SMFC a lot bordering on hate because of the way the club and there fans act like there owed everything the entitlement is frankly astonishing What SMFC fail to realize in that scenario is WU played them and got exactly what they wanted also Lakeside while good by NPL Standards is a Dump by A-League standards Best Defense/Worst Offence in the NPL Vic and at times were playing 6 at the back and still lost 3-0 to City says it all For all there bluster about being well supported the fact is they didn't sell out last night and there Capacity was capped at 6K Personally I think SMFC will end up in a NSD if it happens and that will just just how irreverent they really are but as I said they could be that club everybody hates
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I dont understand how Nabbout can be fit to play for the Socceroos but not fit enough to play for City against South Melbourne. Nabbout has a weird out of control body, if he is 100% fit he looks great, if he gets any sort of injury he cant recover from it and stays in a twilight zone, when he played against Sydney towards the end of last season coming back from injury it was worse than what we saw against Saudi Arabia.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
Shame the game didn't rate :thumbdown:
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Good fun match and decent effort from South Melbourne given their season finished four months ago. Loved the trumpet. Cracking free kick from Schroen.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Nah, South Melbourne would do nothing but fight amongst themselves or with anyone else That faux outrage over WU playing a couple of games at that stadium revealed them for what they are. On the field they are a mediocre football team, off it they are an amateur club led by dinosaurs stuck in the past and wondering what that comet thing is
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
South Melbourne defended well
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Really enjoyable game to watch, South were good right up to the 2nd goal being scored, and then that was probably quite deflating.
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
6K capped capacity and sold 4.2K to mostly neutrals in wet weather not bad but also not amazing but South Melbourne could do ok in a NSD could see a lot of neutrals wanting them to lose
Grem
Roar Rookie
That was an excellent FFA Cup fixture and I thoroughly enjoyed the game. South Melbourne played well and if it had been 1 -1 who knows what may have happened. That was a good crowd and they made a good noise/atmosphere as well.