Melbourne City FC defeated FC Bendigo 4-0 on Tuesday night continuing its pre-season preparations.
An early Marc Marino goal saw the side enter the break 1-0 up with Marino adding a second goal after the break alongside trialists Luka Prelevic and Wade Dekker.
The game started at a very high tempo with the slick pitch playing into the hands of Melbourne City FC’s fast passing game. FC Bendigo looked well structured in their defensive set up but a turnover in the 13th minute opened the door to a Paulo Retre-lead counter attack. Outnumbering the Bendigo defence, Melbourne City FC lined up to tuck the ball away, with Marino being the beneficiary.
FC Bendigo did well to make Melbourne City FC accountable in their attacking half however Melbourne’s defensive structures crippled the home side’s when going forward.
Marino looked dangerous after his goal, testing FC Bendigo goalkeeper Sebastian Mattei from close range in a brilliant end-to-end play. Mooy and Murdocca also found themselves in shooting positions on the edge of the area in the 30th minute only to spray both chances.
Towards the end of the half, Patrick Kisnorbo was thrown up front and the move nearly paid dividends as a long ball from Rob Wielaert found his fellow centre-back to bring the ball down and sting the palms of Mattei.
The first five minutes of the second half saw FC Bendigo have their best chance of the match as a ball from a corner fell to the feet of Trent Waterson who poked it into Tando Velaphi’s hands.
The scare put Melbourne City FC into gear, regaining dominance over the game and punishing the hosts.
It was Marino again who found the back of the net in the 54th minute after some neat play from Ross Archibald down the right wing saw the full-back reach the touch line and cut-back to Marino who tapped in for his second.
Melbourne City FC brought on eight substitutes in the second half that included a range of youth team trialists. A tight-angled goal from Luka Prelevic in the 85th minute and Wade Dekker’s goal in the last minute sealed the convincing result for the visitors.
The side will continue its pre-season this weekend as they travel to Lismore to face the Central Coast Mariners.
Match Details
Pre-Season Friendly
Tuesday 2 September 2014
FC Bendigo 0
Melbourne City FC 4 (Marc Marino 13′, 54′, Luka Prelevic 85′, Wade Dekker 90′)
Epsom Huntly Reserve, Bendigo
Melbourne City FC starting lineup: 1. Andrew Redmayne (GK), 3. Robbie Wielaert, 6. Aaron Mooy, 7. Iain Ramsay, 8. Massimo Murdocca, 5. Ross Archibald, 11. Damien Duff, 9. Marc Marino, 18. Paulo Retre, 24. Patrick Kisnorbo, 19. Anthony Rizk
Substitutes: (20. Tando Velaphi (GK), 2. Phil Petrevski) 45′ (21. Hernan Espindola, 27. Tom King, 25. Jacob Melling, 26. Wade Dekker) 62′ (14. Alex Dao, 16. Tommi Fadljevic, 10. Luka Prelevic, 28. Nick Symeoy) 74′
Yellow cards: Kisnorbo 45′
Red cards: Nil
