Roar Rookie
Melbourne City
2
Match Complete
Western United
1
92' | N. Milanovic | |||
A. O'Neill | 88' | |||
86' | L. Lacroix | |||
75' | J. Risdon | |||
J. Maclaren | 59' | |||
J. Bos | 48' | |||
42' | J. Troisi | |||
L. Lacroix | 38' | |||
A. Nabbout | 30' | |||
30' | C. Pain |
19 | Shots | 9 | ||
8 | On Target | 4 | ||
16 | Fouls | 8 | ||
11 | Corners | 3 | ||
1 | Offsides | 2 | ||
0 | Red Cards | 0 | ||
3 | Yellow Cards | 4 |
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Melbourne City host Western United in a Grand Final replay at AAMI Park to open the new A-League season. Join The Roar for all the action from 7:45pm (AEST).
After a championship win that stunned many in 2021-22, Western United return under John Aloisi for another crack at silverware this season. Their campaign opens against the team they managed to out-muscle in last season’s decider, with premiers Melbourne City certain to be ready for revenge.
City have an embarrassment of riches up front, but it is in midfield where Patrick Kisnorbo has added a little Euro flair, with Valon Berisha and Richard van der Venne set to figure at some point this evening.
Aiden O’Neill continues to be absent from the City squad through injury, but the addition of Thomas Lam will bring some steel to the starting line-up that has lost Connor Metcalfe and Rostyn Griffiths since they last met.
The ‘away’ team are likely to be without their captain and magician, Alessandro Diamanti, who continues to recover from a knee injury picked up last season, but they have already shown they have quality across the park, anchored by the impressive Leo Lacroix.
Aleksandar Prijovic returns to add a cool ruthlessness to a busy Western United attack, and we look forward to seeing wildcard Tongo Doumbia, plucked from the Kazakhstan Premier League, a player who could deliver with some match fitness under his belt.
Western United have the upper hand in recent meetings between these two teams, but write off Melbourne City’s dynamic attack at your peril.
Prediction
Everyone secretly loves the nomadic Western United, but the head says a Melbourne City win tonight. Key new signings for City may need some time to fire, and Aloisi’s men will be keen to reassert their authority on the rivalry.
Melbourne City to triumph 2-0.
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: 7:45pm (AEST)
TV/Stream: Paramount+
Odds: Melbourne City $1.77; Draw $3.75; Western United $4.10 – odds via PlayUp
Teams
Melbourne City
1. Tom GLOVER (GK), 2. Scott GALLOWAY, 3. Scott JAMIESON (C), 4. Nuno REIS, 6. Thomas LAM, 7. Mathew LECKIE, 8. Richard VAN DER VENNE, 9. Jamie MACLAREN, 10. Florin BERENGUER, 13. Aiden O’NEILL, 14. Valon BERISHA, 15. Andrew NABBOUT, 16. Taras GOMULKA, 18. Jordon HALL, 22. Curtis GOOD, 23. Marco TILIO, 25. Callum TALBOT, 33. Matthew SUTTON (GK), 37. Max CAPUTO, 38. Jordan BOS.
Western United
1. Jamie YOUNG (gk), 4. Leo LACROIX, 5. Dylan PIERIAS, 6. Tomoki IMAI, 7. Tongo DOUMBIA, 8. Lachlan WALES, 9. Dylan WENZEL-HALLS, 10. Steven LUSTICA, 11. Connor PAIN, 14. James TROISI, 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 19. Joshua RISDON (c), 21. Sebastian PASQUALI, 26. Nicolas MILANOVIC, 27. Jacob TRATT, 37. Ryan SCOTT (gk), 38. Noah BOTIC, 44. Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, 88. Neil KILKENNY, 99. Aleksandar PRIJOVIC.
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