CITY INSIDER
MELBOURNE CITY FC vs BRISBANE ROAR SUNDAY 9 MAY, 2021 KICK-OFF 4.05PM
MELBOURNE CITY v BRISBANE ROAR
CITY INSIDER SUNDAY 9 MAY
CAPTAIN’S MESSAGE LET ME START OFF BY WISHING A BIG HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL OF THE FANTASTIC MUMS OUT THERE WHO MAKE THE WORLD GO ROUND. TO ALL OF THE GREAT MOTHERS WITHIN THE CITY FAMILY, HOPEFULLY WE CAN MAKE YOUR DAY A LITTLE MORE SPECIAL TONIGHT. As always, the boys are looking forward to getting out onto the best pitch in the country at AAMI Park and are excited to have you there to support us. While we always love to play at home, the success we’ve had at the venue has made an already great experience even more enjoyable for us this season. We’ll be aiming for our seventh home win in a row tonight, something that has never been done before in Club history. It’s a great team to be a part of at the moment and we brought up back-to-back wins in the middle of the week, a strong team performance seeing us take all three points away from home to the Glory. It may have a little weird to go back to playing in front of no fans but the main thing we were worried about was getting a result, although we do wish all the best to those in Western Australian and hope to see things return to normal there very soon. I must make mention of Jamie Maclaren who became just the second A-League player to score 100 goals, it’s a massive achievement and we hope to see plenty more coming from him. As always, another big challenge awaits tonight with Brisbane showcasing some good form as of late. We already got a look at them once when we started our season with a strong away win but that being said, we know that like us, they’ve improved since then and we’ll have to be at the top of our game tonight. We can’t wait to see plenty of City blue in the stands this evening and are looking forward to having you there to cheer us on! C’mon City! Scott Jamieson Melbourne City FC captain
Together We Move
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MELBOURNE CITY v BRISBANE ROAR
CITY INSIDER SUNDAY 9 MAY
CITY READY TO RUMBLE
WITH ROAR
AS THE END OF THE REGULAR SEASON COMES CLOSER, MELBOURNE CITY WILL BE LOOKING TO CLAMP DOWN ON THE PREMIER’S PLATE WITH THREE POINTS AGAINST ONE OF THE IN-FORM SIDES OF THE COMPETITION. We will be looking to continue our latest winning streak when we host Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park this evening. After achieving a Club record of six wins in a row earlier this season, we’ve now won both of our previous two fixtures after an up-and-down month of April. Following a strong win at home to the Jets last Thursday, we were faced with the tough prospect of travelling to Perth to take on the Glory in a midweek Wednesday night fixture. It didn’t take long though for us to settle, with Marco Tilio looking the most likely early in his second start for the Club, Andrew Nabbout missing due to groin soreness. Perth was able to get the game back onto its own terms after our
fast start and picked up the opener through a Chris Ikonomidis strike just after the half hour mark. Not to be deterred, we pushed on and quickly levelled through an own goal before Jamie Maclaren found the back of the net for the 100th time in A-League competition, the star striker scoring just before the halftime whistle. It was a professional second half performance from the boys, with Maclaren scoring once again to draw within a goal of Bruno Fornaroli’s Club record 57 in all competitions. Our opposition tonight – Brisbane Roar – were also in action midweek, picking up a huge three points at the death thanks to a Riku Danzaki
94th minute winner against Western United. Brisbane has now won four of its last five fixtures and hasn’t tasted defeat since mid-March when it was downed by Western United at Sunday night’s venue – AAMI Park. This run of form has resulted in a strong climb up the ladder for the Roar and having played the least games of all teams in the A-League, finals are still well and truly on the cards. These two teams opened the season back in late December, the City boys travelling to Dolphin Stadium where it was able to take three points thanks to a second half Connor Metcalfe goal.
DANGER PLAYER
SEASON STATS - BRISBANE ROAR
A-LEAGUE PREVIEW
DYLAN WENZEL-HALLS It’s been a strong resurgence in form for Brisbane, with the Queensland-based side going undefeated throughout its last six fixtures. Despite being just 23-years-old, one of the big factors in this is Roar attacker Dylan WenzelHalls, who has been enjoying a solid season and is looking comfortable at the level. The forward currently has seven goals to his name and has also assisted a further three, showcasing just how big of a part of the team he is. He forms a young but more than capable front three with Joey Champness and Riku Danzaki, and City will have to be wary of the threats it can pose tonight.
6
8
LEAGUE POSITION
GAMES WON
27
18
GOALS SCORED
GOALS CONCEDED
A-LEAGUE LADDER
LAST RESULT
LAST TIME WE MET
BRISBANE
2
BRISBANE
0
WESTERN UNITED
1
MELBOURNE CITY
1
A-League 2020/21 - Match Week 19 Wednesday 5 May, 2021 Dolphin Stadium
VIDEO HIGLIGHTS
A-League 2019/20 - Match Week 1 Tuesday 29 December, 2020 Dolphin Stadium
VIDEO HIGLIGHTS
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MELBOURNE CITY v BRISBANE ROAR
CITY INSIDER SUNDAY 9 MAY
A HOMECOMING FOR LESIOTIS AFTER A TWO-YEAR ABSENCE FROM THE CLUB, ANTHONY LESIOTIS IS BACK HOME – LITERALLY – AT MELBOURNE CITY FC FOLLOWING HIS RE-SIGNING LAST MONTH. The Bundoora native departed City in January 2019 after having made two appearances at his local A-League side, moving to Melbourne Victory in what became the first transfer in that direction between the rival sides. Following his move, Lesiotis had a breakout season in 2019/20, making 17 appearances in the A-League whilst building on his versatility as a footballer, splitting his time between defensive midfield and right-back or rightmidfield. However, the youngster’s contract wasn’t renewed at the end of the season, leaving Lesiotis to join Western Sydney Wanderers ahead of 2020/21, though a lack of first-team opportunities led him to depart the club and return to Victoria. Now back at Melbourne City, Lesiotis has his sights firmly set on further minutes at the senior level and believes that a second spell at the Club will serve his development best. “I believe I have a way better chance of playing and developing as a young footballer (at City),” he said. “[I’m] focussing on getting as many games as I can in the A-League and developing and gaining a bit more experience that I’m going to
need for the future.” Lesiotis’ return to the club is also a pleasing sign for City’s Director of Football, Michael Petrillo. “Having players return to the club, like Anthony, shows that we are the best place for his development,” Petrillo said. With the versatile and mouldable Lesiotis still just 21 years of age, the youngster has plenty of room to grow within City’s prestigious setup. “It’s such an important time for a player’s development and we believe we can offer one of the best environments, both on and off the pitch,” Petrillo said, “Our Academy train under world-class football standards and there is always going to be a lot of competition for only a few spots. “This means our players need to be patient and ready to take their opportunity when it arises.” Though he appreciates the patience required to earn a chance with the first team, Lesiotis is eager to fight for his place in the side. “I’ll need to be working hard and constantly proving myself on the training ground every day and showing I’m ready, committed and fit to get out there and join in with the boy,” he said. To prove this, he’s as ready as
ever to work his way up from the bottom, making his return to action in the City blue through the Club’s NPL3 outfit late last month against Western United. “In terms of getting game time and staying match fit, it’s important that when you’re not playing in the first team you need to keep your minutes up (by playing in the NPL),” he said. Whether this hard work pays off with a reintroduction to the senior match day squad remains to be seen so early into Lesiotis’ second stint with City, but if one thing is for certain, it’s that he returns a vastly different, more battle-hardened player than the one that left.
MATCH SQUADS
HEAD COACH: PATRICK KISNORBO
A-LEAGUE
1. TOM GLOVER
2. SCOTT GALLOWAY
3. SCOTT JAMIESON
4. NUNO REIS
7. ROSTYN GRIFFITHS
8. AIDEN O’NEILL
9. JAMIE MACLAREN
10. FLORIN BERENGUER
11. CRAIG NOONE
13. NATHANIEL ATKINSON
14. NAOKI TSUBAKI
15. ANDREW NABBOUT
16. TARAS GOMULKA
17. STEFAN COLACOVSKI
18. CONNOR METCALFE
19. BEN GARUCCIO
20. ADRIAN LUNA
22. CURTIS GOOD
23. MARCO TILIO
33. MATT SUTTON
35. RAPHAEL BORGES RODRIGUES
36. KERRIN STOKES
37. BERNADO OLIVEIRA
38. JORDAN BOS
42. AHMED TALEB
21 31
JAMIE YOUNG MACKLIN FREKE
2 3 5 6 16 19 22 29
SCOTT NEVILLE COREY BROWN TOM ALDRED MACAULAY GILLESPHEY JOSH BRINDLE-SOUTH JACK HINGERT PATRICK FLOTTMANN JORDAN COURTNEY-PERKINS
10 15 25 26
RIKU DANZAKI JESSE DALEY RAHMAT AKBARI JAY O’SHEA
7 9 11 17 23
JAI INGHAM MASATO KUDO JOEY CHAMPNESS GOLGOL MEBRAHTU DYLAN WENDZEL-HALLS
HEAD COACH: WARREN MOON
BRISBANE ROAR
MELBOURNE CITY v BRISBANE ROAR
CITY INSIDER SUNDAY 9 MAY
CITY YOUTH HEAD HOME
TO FACE WHITTLESEA THE NPL3 BOYS WILL LOOK TO BUILD ON THEIR 3-3 DRAW WITH WESTERN UNITED IN ROUND 6 WHEN THE TEAM FACES WHITTLESEA RANGES FC AT CASEY FIELDS LATER TONIGHT.
Last time out, City fought hard for the point away from home against Western United in a game packed with bizarre moments and incredible goals. Things started poorly for the visiting City side, with Western finding the back of the net within just 26 seconds of kick-off, working the ball into the box and isolating Nicolas Milanovic to finish past Matt Sutton. Moonib Adus caused chaos in the 11th minute when he whipped in a dangerous cross that was fumbled by United keeper Charlie Emery into the knee of Max Caputo, the ball ricocheting off the City striker and looping into the back of the net. A truly bizarre moment allowed City to net a second goal in the 31st when
a mix-up between goalkeeper and defender led to a comical handball and penalty which was converted clinically by Max Caputo. The goals kept coming though, with Western equalising following a turnover directly from a City throw-in that Rhys Bozinovski capitalised on to finish past Sutton to make scores 2-2 as the teams headed in for half-time. The deadlock was broken in the 79th minute by Western United, with Milanovic netting an incredibly volley from well outside the area to put his team ahead, before a defiant City secured a last-gasp equaliser through Jordan Bos following a short corner routine. Having secured the tough point on the road, the City boys will enjoy
being back at Casey Fields when they host ninth-placed Whittlesea Ranges FC in Round 7 later this evening. Our opposition tonight will likely still be reeling from the result of their Round 6 clash, suffering a 2-0 defeat at home to bottom-of-the-table Ballarat City who secured their first win of the season. Whittlesea have scored just six times this campaign, with the bulk of their goals shared between Thomas Cahill and Dimitri Kosmas who have two each.
SEASON STATS - MELBOURNE CITY NPL
CITY ONE TO WATCH
NPL PREVIEW
AHMED TALEB After seeing a few big names return last week, Petr Kratky will again be without a number of stars for tonight’s NPL game, given it will kickoff at the same time tonight’s A-League match concludes. One familiar face that is still set to feature is goalkeeper Ahmad Taleb who recently signed a two-year deal with the Club. Taleb has played all but one of City’s matches this season and has recorded two clean sheets as he looks to press for further first-team opportunities after twice appearing on the A-League bench earlier this season.
4
3
LEAGUE POSITION
GAMES WON
18
10
GOALS SCORED
GOALS CONCEDED
NPL 3 LADDER
LAST RESULT
NEXT MATCH
WESTERN UNITED
3
MELBOURNE CITY
MELBOURNE CITY
3
WHITTLESEA
NPL 3 Victoria 2021 - Round 6 Friday 30 April, 2021 ABD Stadium
VIDEO HIGLIGHTS
NPL 3 Victoria 2021 - Round 7 Friday 30 April, 2021 KO: 6.00pm Casey Fields
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MELBOURNE CITY v BRISBANE ROAR
CITY INSIDER SUNDAY 9 MAY
KID’S ZONE
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE SPOT THE 4 DIFFERENCES IN THE PICTURES
PRESENTED BY
LOTUS)LIVING
meet the team NAME: Marco Tilio AGE: 19 POSITION: Forward NATIONALITY: Australian PREVIOUS CLUB: Sydney FC JUNIOR CLUB: APIA Leichhardt and Sydney Olymic FAVOURITE FOOD: Sushi FAVOURITE TV SHOW: Power or All American
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LESIOTIS TILIO MACLAREN HUNDRED GOALS
FINALS CITY YOUTH
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