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5 things to look forward to: City v Sydney FC

Nooney

A chance to go top

There’s no doubt the boys have been in cracking form as of late, reeling off seven wins from their past eight fixtures – the most recent being a 2-3 win away from home over Wellington on Monday night.

Through a combination of a slow start to the season and having played a few less games than most other teams, it has been a slow but steady climb up the ladder.

We’ll have the opportunity on Saturday evening to go top of the table for the first time this season and with no game this weekend for the Mariners (currently on top) and Adelaide still two wins away, we can stay top until at least the middle of next week.

Although we’d still have a game in hand, a win for Sydney would see it jump us on the table, so expect our opposition to be just as hungry.

A history making night for Macca?

After seeing his run of scoring in six consecutive matches end last week against Western United, Jamie Maclaren didn’t take long to get back on the scoresheet – finding the back of the net with a quality finish in the first half against Wellington on Monday.

This goal saw him move up to 92 career A-League goals, which tied him with Shane Smeltz for the second most ever.

His next will see him hold that record outright and with the form he has displayed this season, there is a fair chance it happens on Saturday evening!

More opportunities for youngsters

Amid such a good run of form over the past couple of months, there hasn’t been a whole heap of opportunities for a number of our younger members of the squad to show what they can do.

With the game in the balance on Monday, Stefan Colakovski and Marco Tilio entered the pitch with ten minutes plus stoppage time to play and the game was turned on its head.

Colakovski caused plenty of problems down the right-hand-side and both were involved in the winner, Tilio finding space in the box and heading home Connor Metcalfe’s cross.

Defensive depth continuing to shine

We’ve seen our depth at full-back put to the test over the last couple of fixtures, with injuries to usual starters Scott Jamieson and Nathaniel Atkinson providing opportunities for others.

Ben Garuccio has slotted straight in to the left back spot vacated by the skipper, while Galloway saw plenty of minutes on Monday night after Atkinson went down injured.

Despite having two first choice players out, City didn’t miss a beat with both Garuccio and Galloway coming in and performing strongly – a testament to the depth of Kisnorbo’s squad.

A potential clean sweep over the reigning champions

We’ve already faced Sydney FC once this season, taking the points thanks to a 3-2 win at AAMI Park back in Round 9.

Maclaren and Luna both found the back of the net in the first half hour, before the former had his brace and made it 3-0 early in the second half. Two late goals to Sydney helped keep the scoreline respectable in what was a dominant performance from the home side.

Saturday evening will provide the chance to make it a clean sweep for the season, a nice confidence boost against the team that currently holds what we are hunting – both the premiership and championship.


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