CITY INSIDER: City v Sydney FC - Wednesday 6 April

CITY INSIDER

SYDNEY FC WEDNESDAY 6 APRIL AAMI PARK

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MELBOURNE CITY v SYDNEY FC

CITY INSIDER WEDNESDAY 6 APRIL

CAPTAIN’S MESSAGE THE TEAM HAS BEEN CHALLENGED IMMENSELY OVER THESE PAST FEW WEEKS AND IT’S A SIGN THAT THE SEASON’S PEAK IS DRAWING CLOSER – THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT I BELIEVE WE’RE ALSO REACHING OURS.

Three consecutive wins on the road – two of which with several players missing due to Socceroos duties, injuries and the like – capped off by Saturday’s awesome result against the Phoenix goes to show the character of the boys and the sheer quality right throughout the squad. For every player out, there’s another ready and willing to step up and fill that role as the team requires.

That depth and shared belief was what got us through a long, but ultimately successful, run of interstate fixtures, and it’ll be what gets us through the final weeks of the season and, hopefully, a successful Asian Champions League group stage later this month.

This is the last one of these that I’ll be writing before we head away for that after this Saturday night’s Melbourne Derby, and whilst I can’t wait to make history for this Club in its first continental campaign, the team’s focus is entirely on taking three points from Sydney FC on our return home to AAMI tonight.

Regardless of table equations, our ambition at present is to win every single game leading into our departure for Bangkok; firstly, because we have the belief that we are good enough to – and that is the standard we set for ourselves – and then to ensure that we come into that group stage high on confidence and momentum, and finally because every set of three points collected is so valuable this late in the league season.

It goes without saying, that I have every belief that the team has what it takes to beat Sydney FC on our home turf, and that’s not to doubt the quality or character of this opposition which has, over the past couple of years, seemingly been right there with us for every twist and turn.

It’ll be a great game, of that I’m without doubt. I look forward to seeing you all there supporting the boys to another massive three points.

See you in the stands, C’mon City!

Scott Jamieson Melbourne City FC captain

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MELBOURNE CITY v SYDNEY FC

CITY INSIDER WEDNESDAY 6 APRIL

SKY BLUE TEST AHEAD OF DERBY FAREWELL YOUR CITY BOYS ARE FINALLY BACK IN ACTION RIGHT HERE AT AAMI PARK AFTER A RUN OF THREE-CONSECUTIVE INTERSTATE WINS THAT HAS SEEN US INTO A GREAT POSITION ATOP THE A-LEAGUE MEN LADDER. Our next test comes in the form of Sydney FC in what will be the first meeting between the teams at the venue since last year’s epic Grand Final in which the boys secured City’s first-ever A-League Men Championship trophy.

We’re coming off a huge 6-0 away win against Wellington Phoenix over the weekend, a result that likely would have had plenty more shock value if not for our double Derby demolitions last season. A victory of this margin should have seemed incredible against a previously

fourth-placed and in-form Phoenix side that had lost just two of its previous 11 league fixtures.

The result handed us a five-point buffer over nearest rival Western United, who have two games in hand, as well as bolstering our already insurmountable goal difference to +20.

This lead will hopefully be added to with another massive three points tonight against Sydney FC, who are coming off a 3-2 Sydney Derby win that came at the cost of a late red card for Rhyan Grant, who will miss

tonight’s clash.

City and Sydney met earlier this season at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in an enthralling clash that was decided at the death by a clinical strike from the edge of the box from Leckie, securing the 2-1 away victory.

Sydney has not beaten us at AAMI since November 2018, a trend we’ll be looking to continue tonight. games played.

A-LEAGUE MEN PREVIEW

DANGER PLAYER

SEASON STATS - SYDNEY FC

TRENT BUHAGIAR Despite a slow start to the season, Trent Buhagiar has become Sydney FC’s goal threat leading into the point end of the season for Steve Corica’s men.

The forward leads Sydney’s goalscoring and assists stats this season and is fresh off a double in the Sydney Derby last week where he put the Wanderers to the sword.

Known for his incredible speed on and off the ball, Buhagiar has been a league staple over the past few year but has still hit his straps fully in the A-League.

Despite this, he could prove to be a factor on Wednesday night, hitting timely form.

5

7

LEAGUE POSITION

GAMES WON

29

27

GOALS SCORED

GOALS CONCEDED

A-LEAGUE LADDER

LAST RESULT

LAST TIME WE MET

SYDNEY FC

3

SYDNEY

1

WESTERN SYDNEY

2

MELBOURNE CITY

2

Isuzu UTE A-League 2021/22 Saturday 2 April, 2022 Netstrata Jubilee Stadium

VIDEO HIGLIGHTS

Isuzu UTE A-League 2021/22 Saturday 26 February, 2022 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 20

ANDREW REDMAYNE TOM HEWARD-BELLE

2 3 4 5 21 23 25

JAMES DONACHIE BEN WARLAND ALEX WILKINSON CONNOR O’TOOLE HARRY VAN DER SAAG RHYAN GRANT CALLUM TALBOT

6 8 10 17 19 22 32

MUSTAFA AMINI PAULO RETRE MILOS NINKOVIC ANTHONY CACERES CHRIS ZUVELA MAX BURGESS PATRICK YAZBEK

9 11 12 14 16 27 33

BOBO KOSTA BARBAROUSES TRENT BUHAGIAR ADAM LE FONDRE LUCIANO NARSONGH ELVIS KAMSOBA PATRICK WOOD

HEAD COACH: STEVE CORICA

SYDNEY FC

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MELBOURNE CITY v SYDNEY FC

CITY INSIDER WEDNESDAY 6 APRIL

GET TO KNOW UNITED CITY FC OUR FIRST EVER AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CAMPAIGN IS SET TO BE MASSIVE, AND ONE OF THE TEAMS WE’LL BE TAKING ON IS THE PHILIPPINES’ UNITED CITY FC. Despite being crowned Premiers in each of the past four years – ringing true to their nickname, ‘The Golden Boys’ – United City FC are a relatively new identity within the Philippines Football League, the country’s topflight competition.

Only founded in 2012, United City didn’t take long to achieve success, winning a national Cup competition in their inaugural season and achieving second-division league success within two years to see them promoted to the top flight. In their first season at the pinnacle of Filipino football, they clinched the league title with two games to spare, securing the all-important result against an opposition by the interesting name of Team Socceroo FC. This marked the beginning of a successful tenure in the first division thus far, with the team finishing second in 2016 before consecutive title wins in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 – the most recent competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The global pandemic brought significant upheaval to the reigning Filipino champions, with the previous owner Leo Rey Yanson affected by COVID’s financial impacts and forced to sell the club to sports marketing firm MMC Sportz Asia. To emphasise the club’s plight, the pandemic triggered a force majeure that saw all player contracts

terminated; two-thirds of the squad were later re-signed under new management.

However, legal ramifications following the sale, combined with persisting COVID-19 disruptions, has meant that the club hasn’t participated in competitive football since its Asian Champions League campaign in mid 2021.

Grouped with Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale, South Korea’s Daegu FC and China’s Beijing Guoan, United City did well to finish ahead of the latter, drawing 1-1 on the first matchday before securing a vital 3-2 win in the return leg.

Another implication of COVID-19 and the resulting sale to MMC Sportz Asia was the club’s unique move to an ongoing planned community in Tarlac Province: New Clark City. The project will be the Philippines first ‘smart, green and disaster-free metropolis’.

The club was founded in 2012 as Ceres-La Salle, but became known as Ceres-Negros when they formed part of the inaugural Philippines Football League competition in 2017.

The club became United City upon its COVID-enforced sale in 2020 and intends to soon change its name to United Clark in recognition of its new locality.

Like their fellow 2022 Group G opponent Jeonnam Dragons, this won’t be United City’s first run-in with an Australian side in the Asian Champions League;

they beat Brisbane Roar 3-2 in a Preliminary Round in 2018.

Whilst they scraped past Beijing Guoan in the 2021 ACL Group Stage, other results weren’t as kind for fans of the club. The team conceded 24 goals in their six games overall, headlined by 8-0 and 7-0 losses against Kawasaki Frontale and Daegu FC. Now with Englishman Jason Withe at the helm, there’s no telling how the reigning Filipino champions will look when they eventually meet Melbourne City in the ACL Group Stage. If their victories against Brisbane Roar and Beijing Guoan are anything to go by, it’ll take our very best performance to secure all three points on the night.

MELBOURNE CITY v SYDNEY FC

CITY INSIDER WEDNESDAY 6 APRIL

NPL DROP FIRST POINTS OF THE SEASON MELBOURNE CITY FC HAS SUFFERED A FIRST DEFEAT OF THE NEW NPL3 CAMPAIGN, GOING DOWN 2-1 AWAY TO WESTERN UNITED ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON. The home side started brightly with a pair of good chances in the 5th minute. Central defender Ben Collins found space at the back post from a set-piece but was off-target with his header, before Ngor Sabit forced a good reflex save from Ahmad Taleb less than 30 seconds later.

Luke Oresti came close to opening the scoring for a third consecutive week when he rifled an effort on goal in the 14th, forcing a strong save from Charlie Emery to palm the ball over for a City corner.

City’s fortunes turned in the 52nd minute when Jordan Dellidis’ second yellow card offence of the match saw him earn an early exit, penalised for a rash challenge as he attempted to break up a flowing United move through midfield.

The visitors nearly found an unlikely opener in the 60th minute when Politidis forced a turnover high up the pitch and was able to work a cutback to Caputo, who fired over the bar under defensive pressure.

The 10-man City’s defiance continued in the 65th when Grimaldi, who had replaced Raphael at half-time, got spectators off their feet with his strike from the edge of the area that flashed narrowly wide of the mark.

Oresti came close again in the 70th when he was teed up for a strike from outside the box

by Politidis, with the midfielder forcing a good save from Emery diving across to his left.

For all their efforts, the City resistance was finally broken in the 71st when the team’s multiple passed up opportunities to clear culminated in a chance for Ngor, who struck across Taleb into the top right corner.

United’s lead was nearly doubled two minutes later when Sebastian Lo Monaco was played through on goal but was denied brilliantly by Taleb was got a strong palm to the shot which looked bound to sneak through the gap at the near post.

The boys’ spirit wouldn’t be

broken though and they finally got their reward in the 76th minute from the penalty spot.

A mesmerising run into the box from Politidis culminated in the winger being brought down, allowing Caputo to step up and convert the penalty, equalising for his side.

Caputo was then incredibly unfortunate to be sent off 10 minutes later, shown a second yellow card for what looked to have been an overexaggerated foul on a United defender as he looked to win the ball high up the pitch.

An inspiring defensive performance from the visitors ensued over the remainder of the contest, with some crucial saves, goal-line clearances and last ditch tackles nearly seeing the City boys come away with what would have been a wellearned point. Instead, disaster struck as United found a winner deep into stoppage time to secure all three points.

MELBOURNE CITY v SYDNEY FC

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CITY INSIDER WEDNESDAY 6 APRIL

PRESENTED BY

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meet the team NAME: Scott Galloway AGE: 26 POSITION: Defender NATIONALITY: Australian PREVIOUS CLUB: Adelaide United JUNIOR CLUB: Cockburn City FAVOURITE FOOD: Pasta/Nandos FAVOURITE TV SHOW: Power

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