For the fifth consecutive season, Melbourne City FC will participate in the FFA Cup Round of 16. Having never faulted in this stage of the competition, City will be looking to continue their unbeaten run when they take on Marconi Stallions FC at Marconi Stadium on Wednesday 21 August. Ahead of the clash, we take a look at our four previous encounters in the last 16.
2018 – Melbourne City 1-0 Newcastle Jets
City hosted fellow Hyundai A-League outfit, Newcastle Jets at AAMI Park in the Round of 16 last season.
It was an end-to-end contest, with chances aplenty at both ends.
In front of the City faithful, it was City who would secure a safe passage through to the Quarter Finals after a seamless attack was capped off by a perfectly placed curling effort from Bruno Fornaroli to secure the win.
2017 – Hakoah Sydney City East 2-3 Melbourne City
Melbourne City travelled to Leichhardt Oval in 2017, drawing New South Wales National Premier League side, Hakoah Sydney City East.
It was a frantic opening quarter of an hour in New South Wales, with both Dean Bouzanis and his brother Anthony, Hakoah’s goalkeeper, keeping busy between the sticks. City defender Michael Jakobsen opened the scoring in the eighth minute, before the hosts hit back two minutes later through Andre de Jong.
The enthralling start continued when Nick Fitzgerald pounced on an opportunity close to goal to make it 2-1 following Anthony Bouzanis’ desperate save to deny Bruno Fornaroli.
Second-half substitute Denis Genreau extended City’s lead to 3-1 with half an hour to play before Hakoah’s Jack Green netted a consolation goal in the second minute of additional time.
2016 – Brisbane Strikers 1-2 Melbourne City
City’s 2016 title-winning run included a challenging trip to Perry Park to take on a resilient Brisbane Strikers outfit.
In a clash that saw Tim Cahill make his first domestic appearance in over 10 years, it was the hosts who were out to spoil the party taking a 1-0 through Greg Henslee after 34 minutes, sending the home crowd into raptures.
City’s reply was a swift one, with Bruno Fornaroli equalising from the penalty spot three minutes later. With 12 minutes to play, it was Fornaroli again from the spot, converting his penalty to secure City’s place in the last eight.
2015 – Melbourne City 5-1 Wellington Phoenix
The Club’s first game in the Round of 16 was a memorable one, producing a scintillating opening 30 minutes of football to set up a 5-1 win over Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park.
Attacking trio Aaron Mooy, Harry Novillo and Bruno Fornaroli were all on the scoresheet inside the opening 32 minutes, before Roy Krishna pegged a goal back from the penalty spot for the visitor’s in the 34th minute.
City hit back immediately, as Robert Koren made it 4-1 with five minutes to play in the first half. Attacker Wade Dekker put the result beyond doubt with a 49th minute strike to secure the win.
