CITY INSIDER - City v Macarthur | Wednesday 9 March

CITY INSIDER

MACARTHUR FC WEDNESDAY 8 MARCH AAMI PARK

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MELBOURNE CITY v MACARTHUR FC

CITY INSIDER WEDNESDAY 8 MARCH

CAPTAIN’S MESSAGE IT FEELS LIKE I’VE BEEN WRITING A FEW OF THESE RECENTLY, BUT I’M GLAD THAT IT MEANS WE’RE BACK PLAYING AT HOME AGAIN, WHICH CAN BE AN IMPORTANT MENTAL BOOST PARTICULARLY IN SUCH UNPRECEDENTED TIMES AS THESE. Whilst I was just as disappointed as you were to find out that there’d be no game after all that preparation heading into Sunday, we’ve learned throughout this wild season that it’s best just to look ahead to the next game and focus on getting three points from it; this year is proving that those who can be the most adaptable in the face of changing circumstances will be the ones who find success.

Prior to that Sunday postponement, the draw against Perth midweek wasn’t the result we were after, especially given how competitive this season is and how valuable three points are, but we can’t just expect them to arrive without putting in the full 90-minute performance to merit it.

The result is frustrating in a sense, but mainly because it had felt like we’d been building so well in recent times. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that we’re still not at the level that we need to be if we want to earn the privilege of winning a second Premiership.

I have enormous belief in this playing group; we’ve proven over the past month that we have what it takes as an entire squad to play our part when needed and continue to get results even in difficult circumstances.

A win tonight, on home turf and in front of all of you in the stands, will be massive for the entire playing group if we perform well enough to earn it. For me, there is absolutely no better, more rewarding feeling than winning as a team in those conditions.

We all can’t wait to get onto the pitch tonight – especially after last weekend’s postponement – and the boys are ready to fight and do whatever it takes to ensure we’re all leaving AAMI Park with smiles on our faces tonight.

See you in the stands, C’mon City!

Scott Jamieson Melbourne City FC captain

Together We Move

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MELBOURNE CITY v MACARTHUR FC

CITY INSIDER WEDNESDAY 8 MARCH

NO BULL, CITY ARE ON THE HUNT FOR THREE POINTS OUR CITY BOYS WILL BE MAKING A RETURN TO AAMI PARK TONIGHT AS WE FACE MACARTHUR FC FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THAT SEMI FINAL IN MID-2021.

Coming into the clash, the boys have been able to enjoy a longer break than expected following the postponement of our Sunday afternoon clash with Wellington Phoenix.

The last time we were in action was our 2-2 draw against Perth Glory at home last Wednesday.

The City boys burst out of the blocks to see a two-goal lead within 30 minutes thanks to Florin Berenguer and Mathew Leckie, but Perth were able to claw their way back into the contest with goals from Bruno Fornaroli and Callum Timmins.

Our upcoming meeting with Macarthur will be the second time in a week that the Bulls

have played at AAMI following their 3-1 loss against Melbourne Victory last Friday night.

The travelling Macarthur side struggled as they were comprehensively accounted for by the Victory, mustering up half the number of shots of their opponents and only netting their consolation goal when the game was already gone in the 90th minute.

There’s no doubt that a few of you may be anxiously awaiting the return of Craig Noone as the winger faces his old club for the first time. The Englishman has again one of the league’s most creative players in Season 2021/22, leading the league for

crosses and ranking in the top 10 for assists per 90 minutes.

We’ve met the Bulls three times in the brief history of our fixture together, with our boys claiming victory twice and drawing once.

It feels like ancient history now, but it’s worth remembering that 2021 Semi-Final as a reminder of how we matched up against Macarthur last time. The Bulls had made a strong start to the contest and would have even been ahead in the first half if not for Nuno Reis’ goal line heroics, allowing our young stars Stefan Colakovski and Marco Tilio to put the game out of their reach with a quickfire double just after half-time.

A-LEAGUE MEN PREVIEW

DANGER PLAYER

SEASON STATS - MACARTHUR FC

CRAIG NOONE City fans will welcome back one of their favourite sons tonight with Craig Noone returning to face his old team for the first time since joining Macarthur.

Noone played a key role in City doublewinning campaign last season, providing eight assists and scoring six goals, most memorably the Premiers Plate sealing header against Central Coast.

In his time at City, Noone made 55 appearances, scored 15 goals and gave off a further 17 assists, establishing himself as one of the most creative players in the A-League Men.

4

6

LEAGUE POSITION

GAMES WON

22

22

GOALS SCORED

GOALS CONCEDED

A-LEAGUE LADDER

LAST RESULT

LAST TIME WE MET

VICTORY

3

MELBOURNE CITY

2

MACARTHUR FC

1

MACARTHUR FC

0

Isuzu UTE A-League 2021/22 Friday 4 March, 2022 AAMI Park

VIDEO HIGLIGHTS

Isuzu UTE A-League 2021/22 Sunday 20 June, 2021 Netstrata Jubilee Stadium

VIDEO HIGLIGHTS

MATCH SQUADS

HEAD COACH: PATRICK KISNORBO

A-LEAGUE MEN

1. TOM GLOVER

2. SCOTT GALLOWAY

3. SCOTT JAMIESON

4. NUNO REIS

5. ROSTYN GRIFFITHS

7. MATT LECKIE

8. AIDEN O’NEILL

9. JAMIE MACLAREN

10. FLORIN BERENGUER

13. NATHANIEL ATKINSON

15. ANDREW NABBOUT

16. TARAS GOMULKA

17. STEFAN COLACOVSKI

18. CONNOR METCALFE

20.MANUEL PUCCIARELLI

22. CURTIS GOOD

23. MARCO TILIO

33. MATT SUTTON

34. JORDAN HALL

36. KERRIN STOKES

37. MAX CAPUTO

38. JORDAN BOS

42. AHMED TALEB

35. RAPHAEL BORGES RODRIGUES

39. ANTHONY LESIOTIS

1 12

NICK SUMAN FILIP KURTO

2 3 4 6 15 20 23

JAKE MCGING ANTONY GOLEC JAMES MEREDITH ALEKSANDAR JOVANOVIC ALEKSANDAR SUSNJAR TOMI USKOK ADRIAN MARIAPPA

7 8 10 11 21 22 24

DANIEL DE SILVA JORDAN MUTCH ULISES DAVILA TOMMY OAR JAKE HOLLMAN LIAM ROSE CHARLES M’MOMBWA

14 17 19 31 35 99

MOUDI NAJJAR CRAIG NOONE MICHAEL RUHS LACHLAN ROSE AL HASSAN TOURE APOSTOLOS GIANNOU

HEAD COACH: ANTE MILICIC

MACARTHUR FC

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MELBOURNE CITY v MACARTHUR FC

CITY INSIDER WEDNESDAY 8 MARCH

NPL SEASON KICKS OFF FOR CITY’S YOUTH MELBOURNE CITY’S SENIOR NPL SQUAD WILL AGAIN BE COMPETING IN THE VICTORIAN NPL3 COMPETITION IN 2022 AND WILL LOOK TO BUILD ON A SOLID 2021 CAMPAIGN THAT WAS CUT SHORT BY THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19.

The team finished the 2021 season in 5th place after 14 games, making a name for itself as a high-scoring outfit with the likes of recent A-League Men debutant Max Caputo leading the way with an equal league-best 12 goals.

Following the promotion of former NPL Head Coach Petr Kratky to the role of Senior Men’s Assistant Coach, John Maisano will take the reins for the 2022 season with former City A-League player Iacopo La Rocca joining him in an Assistant role.

The former Bulleen Lions Head Coach will be aiming to guide his young but supremely talented side towards promotion to the NPL2 as the club aspires to test its youth against the highest-quality opposition possible.

Familiar Names Fans of Melbourne City’s A-League Men’s team will already be familiar with the likes of Kerrin Stokes and Taras Gomulka, who didn’t take long to establish themselves as regulars in the first team squad after their respective arrivals from South Australia in recent years.

The recent emergence of Jordan Bos in the first team speaks to the development available to those in City’s NPL squad, with the young full-back breaking into the senior City squad after some standout performances in the

NPL in his limited opportunities in 2021 thanks to injury and a COVID-shortened campaign.

Raphael Borges Rodrigues and Max Caputo are another of City’s recent debutants from the NPL setup, with the latter becoming our secondyoungest player ever when he debuted at 15 years and 293 days.

Luke Oresti recently signed a two-year scholarship contract extension and has featured in a handful of senior matchday squads, whilst goalkeeping duo Ahmad Taleb and James Nieuwenhuizen are regular features in the senior environment too.

Ones to Watch Though there are several players already known to fans due to their involvement in the senior setup, there are plenty who could replicate Bos’ path to an A-League debut with a breakout 2022 NPL campaign of their own.

Though the now 16-yearold Caputo surely has to go down as one to watch as he spearheads our attack again this season, it’s the performances of Lucas Byrns and Moonib Adus on either side of him that are sure to excite plenty of observers in 2022. The wingers are unsurprisingly rapid with the ball and are complementary of each others’ skillset; Byrns tended to be the more prolific goal threat last season, whilst Adus used his tricky feet and

superb crossing to provide assists on a regular basis.

Attacking midfielder Jordi Valadon was an influential presence for City entering the final third and also has a knack for netting some highlight reel strikes from distance.

The 19-year-old also recently featured in an A-League matchday squad for the first time.

With Connor Metcalfe departing for FC St. Pauli at season’s end, it may be Luke Oresti who looms as one of the largest beneficiaries.

Positionally similar, the 18-year-old is already on the precipice of breaking into the senior squad and operates with an industrious work rate as he buzzes about midfield whilst also proving a valuable creative presence to have in, around, and leading up to the penalty area.

MELBOURNE CITY v MACARTHUR FC

CITY INSIDER WEDNESDAY 8 MARCH

CITY FINALS BOUND AFTER WANDER WIN CITY FINISHED ITS A-LEAGUE WOMEN REGULAR SEASON CAMPAIGN IN STYLE, RUNNING AWAY 2-0 WINNERS AWAY TO WESTERN SYDNEY ON SUNDAY.

The win set up a blockbuster finale for the season, with City going top of the table, meaning an Adelaide United win over Sydney FC would hand City its third Premiership. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be as the visiting Sydney side came away 1-0 winners.

Head Coach Rado Vidosic made three changes to his lineup for Sunday’s crucial fixture.

Caitlin Karic, Chelsea Blissett and Meisha Westland all returned to the XI, with Tyla-Jay Vlajnic and Leticia McKenna moving to the bench, while Rebekah Stott was rested.

City got off to a strong start and dominated all of the early possession as the Wanderers struggled to string passes together thanks to the visitors strong press.

The hard-working Rhianna Pollicina and Leah Davidson were as influential as ever in the middle of the pitch as City pressed to open scoring.

Despite all of its early possession, City couldn’t fashion a proper

attempt on goal until the 21st minute when Pollicina received the ball with a head full of steam.

A classy dribble saw the midfielder fake out two Wanderers defenders before a perfectly placed strike found the back of the net via the inside of the post.

Although the Wanderers were able to see a bit more of the ball later in the opening half, some stoic defending from the likes of Winonah Heatley and Chelsea Blissett made sure Melissa Barbieri wouldn’t have much to do in goal prior to the half-time whistle.

The second half got off to a much more even start, with City having to fight hard for scoring chances against a much improved Wanderers line-up.

Despite the Wanderers seeing a little more of the ball, City’s defence continue to hold up strong and ensured the home team could create very little in their front third.

Tori Tumeth almost became an unlikely goalscorer in the 50th

minute, meeting Blissett’s cross from the corner with a powerful header that flashed just over the bar.

City began to create more and more chances as the second half wore on and the Wanderers tired, and eventually would double its lead in the 73rd.

Hannah Wilkinson used her pace to get ahead of the defender and cooly finished past the oncoming goalkeeper to find the back of the net for the 11th time this season, setting a new Club record.

The chances didn’t dry up there for City, with Pollicina, Leticia McKenna and Wilkinson again going close in the latter stages.

Despite a plethora of late opportunities, the scoreline would remain at 2-0 when the final whistle sounded.

City will now travel to Netstrata Jubilee Stadium to take on Sydney FC in a massive Semi Final this Friday night with a place in the Grand Final up for grabs.

MELBOURNE CITY v MACARTHUR FC

KIDS ZONE

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CITY INSIDER WEDNESDAY 8 MARCH

PRESENTED BY

LOTUS)LIVING

meet the team NAME: Marco Tilio AGE: 20 POSITION: Forward NATIONALITY: Australian PREVIOUS CLUB: Sydney FC JUNIOR CLUB: APIA Leichhardt & Sydney Olympic FAVOURITE FOOD: Sushi FAVOURITE TV SHOW: Power

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