Melbourne City FC will return to action as A-League Premiers for the first time when the team takes on Brisbane Roar at Moreton Daily Stadium on Tuesday night.
The clash
History was made with City’s 1-0 win over the Central Coast Mariners on Saturday night as the team was named A-League Premiers for the first time ever, celebrations kicking off on the final whistle and lasting long into the night.
Here it is! 🍽#CmonCity | #MCYvCCM | #ALeague pic.twitter.com/LFU1YkvDl0
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) May 22, 2021
The game was a hard-fought contest as anticipated, with little separating the league’s top two teams on the night.
Jamie Maclaren had one of the best chances of the match within the opening 60 seconds, with his free header narrowly flashing over the bar following the cross from the left.
The teams went on to contest a nil-all first half before Craig Noone scored the eventual matchwinner in the 59th minute, bursting forward to meet Luna’s back-post cross and heading the ball past Mark Birighitti into the bottom corner.
Not a night we'll be forgetting any time soon 🤩
📺 Catch up on all of the highlights of the win that sealed us the 2020/21 A-League Premiership!#CmonCity pic.twitter.com/wvN7WaW5Jx
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) May 23, 2021
VAR had plenty of influence on the remainder of the game, ruling out a late Maclaren goal following an inadvertent handball in the buildup, before crucially overruling a 94th minute Mariners penalty for a stamp on the foot of Aiden O’Neill as the ball was swung in from the corner-kick.
AAMI Park erupted as the final whistle blew to signify City’s 1-0 win and subsequent crowning as A-League Premiers, but attentions needed to be quickly turned to tonight’s clash with Brisbane Roar away from home.
The Roar most recently secured a 1-2 victory on the road against Newcastle Jets, with Riku Danzaki and Jay O’Shea netting to earn the three points for their side.
Brisbane dominated much of the game but were unfortunate to be in the position they were before O’Shea’s winner in the 73rd, with the contest previously poised at 1-1 thanks to the midfielder’s own-goal up the other end just 12 minutes prior.
The Roar currently occupy 6th place with 34 points from their 22 games thus far, and will be desperate for a massive three points against City which would solidify their Finals qualification.
City has the upperhand in regards to the recent record between these teams, winning each of the past three encounters, including our 3-2 victory at home earlier this month.
Team News
Head Coach Patrick Kisnorbo has made two additions to his squad for this away clash against the Roar. 17-year-old midfielder Raphael Borges Rodrigues has been promoted, while defender Alec Mills has also been added to the squad.
Melbourne City FC squad
1.Tom GLOVER (gk), 2.Scott GALLOWAY, 3.Scott JAMIESON (c), 4.Nuno REIS, 5.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 8.Aiden O’NEILL, 9.Jamie MACLAREN, 10.Florin BERENGUER-BOHRER, 11.Craig NOONE, 14.Naoki TSUBAKI, 16.Taras GOMULKA, 17.Stefan COLAKOVSKI, 18.Connor METCALFE, 19.Ben GARUCCIO, 20.Adrian LUNA, 22.Curtis GOOD, 23.Marco TILIO, 33.Matthew SUTTON (gk) 35.Raphal BORGES RODRIGUES, 43.Alec MILLS.
**2 to be omitted**
In: 35.Raphael BORGES RODRIGUES (promoted), 43.Alec MILLS (promoted).
Out: Nil.
Unavailable: 13.Nathaniel ATKINSON (hamstring), 15.Andrew NABBOUT (adductor).
Match Details
A-League Round 22
Brisbane Roar vs Melbourne City FC
Tuesday 25 May, kick-off 7:05pm
Moreton Daily Stadium
