Melbourne City FC will be looking to get back on the winners list when it takes on 12th placed Newcastle Jets this Thursday night at AAMI Park.
Tickets are still available for this fixture, click here to get yours now!
The clash
Following a series of favourable results around the league, City fans would have been hoping for a clinical three-point performance away from home against Macarthur FC last Saturday, but unfortunately the visitors were forced to settle for a draw instead.
The Bulls were much-improved from their 3-0 loss at AAMI Park the last time the teams faced off, and pushed City right throughout the encounter at Campbelltown Sports Stadium this time around.
Miss last nights away draw against Macarthur?
📺 We've got you covered – catch up on all of the highlights. 👇#CmonCity pic.twitter.com/EoYICKjJIu
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) April 25, 2021
The visiting side eventually went ahead midway through the second half when Connor Metcalfe rifled home from a Craig Noone cross from the left, rattling the back of the net with his volleyed effort from inside the area.
Just as City looked like holding out for a win, substitute Michael Ruhs broke through for Macarthur, finishing coolly to make it 1-1 in the 77th minute, the game eventually ending in that scoreline.
Whilst fans may have been disappointed with the result initially, Adelaide’s loss on Sunday ensured that City would finish the weekend on top of the table and with a game in-hand on the trailing pack.
This Thursday’s opposition, Newcastle Jets, started the season competitively but have since failed to win any of their past 10 A-League fixtures, most recently going down 2-0 away to Western United.
It may be 1st v 12th on Thursday night but @aidenoneill98 and the rest of the squad aren't taking Newcastle lightly.#CmonCity | 🎟 https://t.co/S4EIwWthRn pic.twitter.com/AJTJs8zKji
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) April 27, 2021
As has been the case in recent weeks, Newcastle matched its opposition for shooting opportunities but just couldn’t take their chances whilst conceding an unfortunate own-goal before Dylan Pierias sealed the result with a well-placed finish up the other end.
City will be out for revenge when it hosts the Jets on Thursday, having gone down 1-0 earlier in the season, that result marking a third-consecutive loss that left City with a record of 2-0-4 six games in.
However, history is on the home team’s side this time around, with Newcastle Jets having failed to win any of the past seven meetings between the teams at AAMI. The last time they beat City at AAMI was in October 2015, when they secured a 2-3 result.
Team News
Head Coach Patrick Kisnorbo has made two additions to his squad for Thursday night football. After missing our last fixture due to soreness, Rostyn Griffiths and Nuno Reis have both been added to the squad and could potentially make their returns.
Melbourne City FC squad
1.Tom GLOVER (gk), 2.Scott GALLOWAY, 3.Scott JAMIESON (c), 4.Nuno REIS, 7.Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 8.Aiden O’NEILL, 9.Jamie MACLAREN, 10.Florin BERENGUER-BOHRER, 11.Craig NOONE, 14.Naoki TSUBAKI, 15.Andrew NABBOUT, 17.Stefan COLAKOVSKI, 18.Connor METCALFE, 19.Ben GARUCCIO, 20.Adrian LUNA, 22.Curtis GOOD, 23.Marco TILIO, 33.Matthew SUTTON (gk), 36.Kerrin STOKES, 43.Alec MILLS.
**2 to be omitted**
In: 4.Nuno REIS (returns from injury), 7.Rostyn GRIFFITHS (returns from injury).
Out: Nil.
Unavailable: 13.Nathaniel ATKINSON (hamstring).
Match Details
A-League Round 19
Melbourne City FC vs Newcastle Jets
Thursday 29 April, kick-off 7:05pm
AAMI Park
