Melbourne City’s Y-League side will look to shrug off the disappointment of a season-opening defeat at the hands of Brisbane Roar when they once again hit the road this week, making the trek across The Nullarbor to take on Perth Glory.
A brace from Roar’s Mirza Muratovic proved too much for City to overcome at a sodden Lions Stadium in Queensland last week, Head Coach Joe Palatsides’ side – despite defender Lucas Portelli going close in the 59th minute and Roar keeper Macklin Freke being challenged twice late – unable to ever truly find the rhythm required to play at their fluid best against their orange-clad foes.
Thanks to a quirk in Y-League fixturing, this coming Saturday’s contest against Perth will be the last time City’s Y-League side travel interstate until the final week of the ten-week campaign, when they head to Adelaide to take on the Reds at the Marden Sports Complex on 25 January.
City will be looking to secure a successful road trip against a Perth side that is undefeated after two rounds of the Y-League season; Richard Garcia’s side having recorded a win over Brisbane Roar in round one and a draw with Melbourne Victory in round two.
Playing at Lakeside Stadium last week, Glory’s Trent Ostler had his side ahead in the 27th minute of that contest when he launched a thunderbolt into the back of the net from 25-yards-out.
Perth was then forced into a rear-guard action by a spirited comeback by the hosts that was highlighted by Yazid Said’s 71st-minute equaliser but ultimately did to hold on and escape back West Australia with a point.
City last met Perth in round eight of the 2017/18 Y-League season when City, having already punched their tickets to that season’s grand final, went down to their Western foes 3-1 at Dorrein Gardens thanks to a brace from Joel Chianese and a solo strike from Daniel Stynes.
This Saturday’s fixture will once again take place at Perth ground Dorrien Gardens, with kickoff scheduled for 10:30 am local time, 1:30 pm Melbourne time.
Match Details:
Foxtel Y-League Round 3
Saturday, 24 November 2018
Perth Glory v Melbourne City FC
Venue: Dorrien Gardens, West Perth, Perth, West Australia
Kick-off: 10.30 am Local – 1.30 pm Melbourne
