Melbourne City FC
2
Match Complete
Adelaide United
1
| 67' |  | R. McGree | ||
| J. Maclaren | | 28' | ||
| J. Maclaren | | 24' |
| 12 | Shots | 12 | ||
| 4 | On Target | 5 | ||
| 5 | Fouls | 9 | ||
| 3 | Corners | 9 | ||
| 0 | Offsides | 1 | ||
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 | ||
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 0 |
Match result:
Melbourne City have held on for their first win this campaign, and Eric Mombaerts’ first win as coach, thanks to a double from Jamie Maclaren.
Final score
Melbourne City 2
Adelaide United 1
Match preview:
The two Sunday games to close out Round 2 start with Melbourne City playing host to Adelaide United at AAMI Park. Join The Roar from 4pm (AEDT) for live scores and blog of the game.
The first round draw in the local derby was a workmanlike effort for City, and no doubt they wanted to get through Erick Mombaerts’ first league game in charge without too much damage.
While the draw may well have been mission accomplished for Mombaerts and his men, the next item to check off the list must be to get a win, or else the longer the team goes without their own victory, the heavier that weighs on their shoulders.
City were ultimately lucky against Victory in Round 1, and had Elvix Kamsoba held his run a split second longer, Melbourne would be coming into this match off a first up loss.
But in this league you make your own luck, or at the very least you try to ride it as long as you can, so with a point in the bank, Melbourne now have a chance to pick up a win against a wounded opponent.
The addition of Socceroo Jamie Maclaren may give Melbourne the goals they need to fire up front, and off the back of hard work by the likes of Scott Jamieson, Josh Brillante, and Rostyn Griffiths, Melbourne have the tools to build a win.
Standing in the home side’s way though is an Adelaide unit that will consider their round 1 loss to be something of an injustice, considering the quality in their line-up.
Adelaide started the season poorly, and allowing the reigning champion out to a 2-goal lead was always going to make things difficult.
Still, Adelaide showed true grit to comeback against Sydney, and that should hearten coach Gertjan Verbeek.
A win may well be just a step too far for the Reds, but you still like their ability to take this game to the home side.
Adelaide are without defender Ryan Strain, who has carried on Adelaide’s tradition under Kurz of getting sent off, but the addition of James Troisi into the side might give the away side a little extra something up front.
Adelaide are looking for their first back-to-back wins over Melbourne in three years.
Prediction
No doubt Melbourne look a little bit more potent up front with the return of Maclaren to the line up, but it is questionable whether that will be enough to carry Melbourne across the line.
Adelaide are already a potent side themselves, and they will see the first start loss to Sydney as an error that requires immediately amendment. Still, a trip to City is a tough trip, so expect the spoils to be shared.
Melbourne City 2 Adelaide United 2
Join The Roar for live scores and updates from 4pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to leave a comment below.
Where: AAMI Park, Melbourne
When: Sunday, 20th October, 4pm (AEDT)
TV: Fox Sports 505
Melbourne City
1.Tom GLOVER (gk), 2.Scott GALLOWAY, 3.Scott JAMIESON (c), 4.Harrison DELBRIDGE, 6.Josh BRILLANTE, 7. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 8.Javier CABRERA, 9.Jamie MACLAREN, 11.Craig NOONE, 13. Nathniel ATKINSON, 17.Denis GENREAU, 19.Lachlan WALES, 20.Adrian LUNA, 21.Ramy NAJJARINE, 22.Curtis GOOD, 23.Dean BOUZANIS (gk), 30. Moudi NAJJAR, 34.Connor METCALFE, 40.Richard WINDBICHLER, 49.Stefan COLAKOVSKI
Adelaide United
2.Michael MARRONE, 5.Michaël MARIA, 6.Vince LIA, 7.Ryan KITTO, 8.Riley McGREE, 10.James TROISI, 11.Kristian OPSETH, 14.George BLACKWOOD, 16.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS, 17.Nikola MILEUSNIĆ, 18.Lachlan BROOK, 20.Paul IZZO (gk), 22.Michael JAKOBSEN (c), 26.Ben HALLORAN, 27.Louis D’ARRIGO, 30.Isaac RICHARDS (gk), 31.Mirko BOLAND, 35.Al Hassan TOURE, 34. Yared ABETEW
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Roar Guru
Full time City have held on for their first win this campaign, and Eric Mombaerts' first win as coach. Adelaide instead start with two losses, and suddenly an uphill start to the season. Jamie Maclaren the difference with a double, and an all-round strong performance. Adelaide pushed for some reward, and the Riley McGree goal gave them hope. But it is the light blues who take away a win, and some confidence for the FFA Cup mid-week final. Thanks for joining us for coverage of today's game. Melbourne City - 2 Adelaide United - 1
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92' - Less than 2 minutes now for the Reds. They have lost a little bit of step in their surge. Melbourne City - 2 Adelaide United - 1
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91' - Sorry, that wasn't Brillante with the intercept, that was Windbichler - the big burly defender, who did the job. Melbourne City - 2 Adelaide United - 1
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90' - Oh wow - Toure weaves around players, and his cut back is perfect, but Brillante with a touch at the last instance that flicks the ball to Bouzanis. What an equaliser that would have been! Opseth was lining up to bury that. Melbourne City - 2 Adelaide United - 1
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90' - We will have 4 more minutes of stoppage time. Melbourne City - 2 Adelaide United - 1
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89' - Cabrera on the break, he cuts back and crosses, but the Reds get numbers back and clear. Melbourne City - 2 Adelaide United - 1
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88' - Metcalfe with a show from range, and that is wildly off target. Time wasting perhaps? Either way, City still in front, Reds with a goal kick. Melbourne City - 2 Adelaide United - 1
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87' - Time is slipping away from Adelaide, as they pass it out from the back, but Marrone overcooks the spread, and it's out for a City throw in. Melbourne City - 2 Adelaide United - 1
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86' - Reds on the attack here, Jakobsen crosses, finds Brook who leaps into the challenge, but the ball loops off the header wide for a goal kick. Melbourne City - 2 Adelaide United - 1
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84' - City looking for the killer, but they just can't connect with that crucial final pass. Reds survive. Melbourne City - 2 Adelaide United - 1
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84' - Mileusnic the player to make way for Konstandopoulos. Reds are looking for that equaliser here, and the are having a thorough look. Melbourne City - 2 Adelaide United - 1
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83' - And it's the recently introduced Konstandopoulos with the shot from range, low to Bouzanis' right, the keeper does well to get low and stop the shot, and hold onto the bobble. Melbourne City - 2 Adelaide United - 1
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82' - City with all the possession for the past couple minutes. Reds need to chase the game just a little bit more. Melbourne City - 2 Adelaide United - 1
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81' - Luna getting in on the action, that extra energy causing the Reds' defence a tick of bother. Melbourne City - 2 Adelaide United - 1
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80' - 10 minutes to go. Do City now bunker down and hold out for the win, or try to finish it? Melbourne City - 2 Adelaide United - 1
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78' - Reds with that swift passing possession, but it's out for a throw in, and City take a chance to slow things down. Maclaren comes off, to applause, and he is replaced by Adrian Luna. Maclaren has done his part. Melbourne City - 2 Adelaide United - 1
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77' - Metcalfe with a rampaging run, but his through ball is kicked swiftly and directly at ... Izzo, who greets it with joy. Melbourne City - 2 Adelaide United - 1
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77' - City earn a throw in, and they are doing well so far to maintain their one goal lead. Melbourne City - 2 Adelaide United - 1
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76' - Maria with a shot from scraps. Number 6 corner, here we come. Melbourne City - 2 Adelaide United - 1
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76' - This is Adelaide's fourth corner in a row. Bouzanis comes for it, but Delbridge clears. Corner number five in a row coming up. Melbourne City - 2 Adelaide United - 1