CITY INSIDER
WESTERN UNITED SATURDAY 4 DECEMBER AAMI PARK
MELBOURNE CITY v WESTERN UNITED
CITY INSIDER SATURDAY 4 DECEMBER
CAPTAIN’S MESSAGE TO HAVE MADE A GOOD START TO BOTH THE LEAGUE AND CUP IS PLEASING AND SHOWS THAT WE’RE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT THE FACT THAT WE’RE NOT ON SIX POINTS MEANS THAT THERE’S STILL PLENTY OF IMPROVEMENT TO BE MADE. We were all disappointed by the result last Saturday. To concede two late goals after doing well to build such a promising lead in the second half was frustrating, but I also take confidence from the performance that got us to the 2-0 lead in the first place. While in a perfect world we would’ve loved the three points on Saturday night, it was great to see the boys bounce back in the FFA Cup mid-week and get a positive result, especially with a lot of our younger boys putting in some great performances. I also took both Jordan Bos’ A-League Men’s debut and Luke Oresti’s first minutes for the Club during the week as big positives for the Club. Both of those guys have been working hard in the background for a long time, and through perseverance and hard work, they’ve earnt their opportunities. It’s testament to the Club’s Academy and the work that goes on behind the scenes that many people don’t see. As a playing group, our focus is now strictly on this game against Western United as we look to continue building momentum together as a squad and maintain the kind of positive culture that will lead us on to good things this season. The fixtures are coming frequently now, and whilst, as players of the game, we love being out on the pitch as often as possible, I also look at these types of schedules as a test of the unity of the squad; more players will be given opportunities to perform, but what will ultimately determine our success is how we work as a team, how we execute the plans that we’ve worked on as a group, and how we perform against our own expectations. As ever, I’m confident that there is no better squad in the league at doing all of these things together, and look to our game against Western United as an opportunity to demonstrate that. See you in the stands, C’mon City! Scott Jamieson Melbourne City FC captain
Together We Move
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MELBOURNE CITY v WESTERN UNITED
CITY INSIDER SATURDAY 4 DECEMBER
THE CHAMPIONS LOOK TO REMAIN UNDEFEATED YOUR CITY BOYS WILL BE AIMING TO CONTINUE THEIR STRONG RECORD AGAINST WESTERN UNITED TONIGHT AT AAMI PARK.
The City boys will take to the field again tonight (how good!) when they host Western United in Round 3 of the Isuzu UTE A-League. We’ve had a solid start to the new season so far, as we’re now undefeated across our opening five games in all competitions. Most recently, that run was extended thanks to a win in the FFA Cup over Hume City on Wednesday night, seeing us through to the competition’s quarter-final stage. It was Mathew Leckie who netted the decisive goal – his first for City – with his 20thminute strike teed up by Manuel
Pucciarelli, who made his first competitive appearance for the club since arriving in September. In our most recent A-League Men’s fixture, however, you’ll no doubt remember what was ultimately a disappointing result on the road to Adelaide United. Andrew Nabbout was in the mood on Saturday night, assisting Jamie Maclaren for the opener before scoring an incredible outside-of-the-boot goal from outside the box to make it 2-0 early in the second half. However, a late defensive lapse saw us concede goals to Stefan Mauk and then Ben Halloran in
stoppage time, with the winger chipping Glover from outside the area in what was indeed a frustrating moment for us all watching on. Tonight, however, it’s Western United we’ll be coming up against and they’ll be feeling pretty good about themselves after securing a first win of the season against Perth Glory last weekend. Fans will be counting on City’s impeccable record as the home team against Western United to continue, with the side never having failed to win in such fixtures.
A-LEAGUE MEN PREVIEW
DANGER PLAYER
SEASON STATS - WESTERN UNITED
ALESSANDRO DIAMANTI The perennial danger player from Western United has always been Alessandro Diamanti and this weekend is no exception. The former Italian international still continues to be one of the league’s most influential players at the age of 38. His ability to influence the match ranges from his eye for the perfect pass to his outlandish attempts on goal that sometimes result in the spectacular. The Western United captain continues to amaze in the league and his character is ever-present on the pitch, seeing him become a league-wide favourite.
6
1
LEAGUE POSITION
GAMES WON
1
1
GOALS SCORED
GOALS CONCEDED
A-LEAGUE LADDER
LAST RESULT
LAST TIME WE MET
WESTERN UTD
1
WESTERN UTD
2
PERTH
0
MELBOURNE CITY
1
Isuzu UTE A-League - Round of 2 Friday 26 November, 2021 AAMI Park
VIDEO HIGLIGHTS
A-League 2020/21 - Round 15 Thursday 1 April, 2021 AAMI Park
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MELBOURNE CITY v WESTERN UNITED
CITY INSIDER SATURDAY 4 DECEMBER
CITY PROGRESS TO THE QUARTERS CITY CONTINUED ITS UNBEATEN START TO THE SEASON, PROGRESSING TO THE FFA CUP QUARTER-FINALS BY BEATING HUME CITY 1-0 ON WEDNESDAY. MATHEW LECKIE SCORED THE ALL-IMPORTANT GOAL IN THE 20TH MINUTE, FINISHING FROM MANUEL PUCCIARELLI’S ASSIST ON HIS CLUB DEBUT. Patrick Kisnorbo named a stages arrived in the 10th remainder of the opening 45. very youthful starting lineup minute when Pucciarelli fed The early stages of the second to face Hume, with Kerrin Borges Rodrigues into the half saw some frantic end-toStokes, Jordan Bos, Anthony box, only for the youngster end action, with good saves Lesiotis, Taras Gomulka, to be brought down and from both keepers and even Raphael Borges Rodrigues City awarded a penalty. Tilio the woodwork, with Hume’s and Marco Tilio all named in stepped up to take the spot Mitch Cooper striking the the XI. Nathaniel Atkinson and kick, but his low, driven effort outside of the upright following Stefan Colakovski were both missed to the right of the post. a dangerous ball in from unavailable for the clash, with Whilst Hume may have teammate Bingham. the former picking up a slight thought they’d gotten away Borges Rodrigues was lively for niggle and the latter sitting with one early, City wouldn’t City all match and showed out the clash as a precaution be denied. The 20th minute his quality again in the 69th whilst feeling unwell. Manuel saw Pucciarelli fed into the box minute when he received Pucciarelli also started the from midfield before whipping inside the area, squared up clash for City, making his first in a low cross for Leckie to slam his defender and created competitive appearance for into the back of the net from space for the shot, though he his new club since joining in close range, rewarding City for couldn’t score the goal that September. Rostyn Griffiths its early dominance with a 1-0 his effort deserved, only able took the captain’s armband scoreline. to strike the crossbar instead. for the night. From there, the visiting team Whilst City accumulated As was the case in the continued to have the majority several good chances over Round of 32, City controlled of possession and territorial the remaining quarter of the the early stages with plenty dominance, allowing them game, none came close of possession. Griffiths and to control the tempo of the enough to test Trenkovski Good’s composure on the contest. again, with the final scoreline ball in central defence was Hume’s young keeper Lucas remaining 0-1 in the visitors’ also crucial to that early Trenkovski came up big for favour. dominance, snuffing out his side with a double save Hume’s attacks before they in the 39th minute to deny could progress the ball into Leckie a first-half brace, with dangerous areas. that moment proving to be The big moment of the early City’s best chance over the
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 37
JAMIE YOUNG RYAN SCOTT
4 5 6 12 13 17 19 44
LEO LACROIX DYLAN PIERIAS TOMOKI IMAI DALIBOR MARKOVIC IVAN VUJICA BEN GARUCCIO JOSH RISDON NIKOLAI TOPOR-STANLEY
10 16 21 23 25 27 29 88
STEVEN LUSTICA RENE KRHIN SEB PASQUALI ALESSANDRO DIAMANTI LUKE DUZEL JERRY SKOTADIS AYOM MAJOK NEIL KILKENNY
8 9 11 26 34 99
LACHLAN WALES DYLAN WENZEL-HALLS CONNOR PAIN NICOLAS MILANOVIC CHRISTIAN THEOHAROUS ALEKSANDAR PRIJOVIC
HEAD COACH: JOHN ALOISI
WESTERN UNITED
MELBOURNE CITY v WESTERN UNITED
CITY INSIDER SATURDAY 4 DECEMBER
NEW-LOOK WOMENS CITY SLICKERS WHILST OUR A-LEAGUE WOMEN CAMPAIGN ALREADY GOT UNDERWAY LAST NIGHT WITH A 1-0 WIN OVER CANBERRA UNITED, THERE’S PLENTY OF CATCHING UP TO DO WITH ALL THE NEW SIGNINGS BROUGHT IN OVER THE OFF-SEASON AS WE LOOK TO RETURN TO FINALS FOOTBALL IN SEASON 2021/22. Firstly though, Melissa Barbieri, Chelsea Blissett, Naomi Chinnama, Leah Davidson, Tori Tumeth and Tyla-Jay Vlajnic are all back for Season 2021/22, having also been part of the setup last season. Four-time Championship winner with City, Rebekah Stott, also makes her return to the Club. In regard to new signings, we’ll start from the very back and discuss our pair of young goalkeepers Sally James and Coco Majstorovic. A fractured thumb will keep James out of the early stages of the season, but 22-year-old Majstorovic was able to join recently as her replacement to compete with Barbieri to be City’s first-choice goalkeeper. In defence, City made further shrewd signings, picking up both of 2020/21 runners-up Brisbane Roar’s full-backs in Kaitlyn Torpey and Winonah Heatley. The latter’s involvement with the Matildas in September makes her signing an even more exciting prospect, but we’re keen to see if the defensive duo can carry on their form for Brisbane last season at City in 2021/22.
One of City’s interesting foreign signings is Kiwi defender Marisa van der Meer, who has recent experience with the New Zealand national team following her call-up for the Tokyo Olympics squad. Whilst she didn’t get to make her international debut, the versatile 19-year-old, who can play as a central or wide defender, remains one of her nation’s most highly touted prospects. Further up, City have acquired a pair of young but relatively experienced midfielders in 24-year-old Rhianna Pollicina and 19-year-old Leticia McKenna, key players for Newcastle and Brisbane respectively last season. Both are creative midfielders who can make things happen with their passing and ability on the ball. In contrast, 20-year-old Meisha Westland is a defensive midfielder joining from Lions FC who will hope to make an impact for City in her first season at A-Leagues level. Part of a triple signing announcement in late September, Darcey Malone is a young midfielder who already
has experience in top-flight squad in Australia, featuring for Sydney FC two years ago when she was signed as an injury replacement, honing her talents at state level since then. Forwards Caitlin Karic and Holly McNamara rounded out that trio of late September signings with Malone and the teenage pair will be hoping to make an impact in the final third for City this season. 15-year-old Karic can be described as a versatile, agile attacker, while McNamara is more of a pacey out-and-out striker. We’ll round out with veteran Football Fern Hannah Wilkinson, who will likely lead the line for City in Season 2021/22. With 100 goals for her national team and stints in some top European footballing nations, the 29-yearold will be hoping to guide City back to A-League Finals with her goals this season. With incredibly deep defensive stocks at our disposal, the focus for City in 2021/22 will ensuring that we can find a consistent route to goal, having struggled with this last season as we netted 11 times in 12 games.
MELBOURNE CITY v WESTERN UNITED
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CITY INSIDER SATURDAY 4 DECEMBER
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meet the team NAME: Taras Gomulka AGE: 19 POSITION: Midfielder NATIONALITY: Australian PREVIOUS CLUB: Adelaide United JUNIOR CLUB: Adelaide City FAVOURITE FOOD: Pizza FAVOURITE TV SHOW: Prisonbreak
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