By Nick Creely
Reigning A-League Mens champions Melbourne City are ready to roll ahead of Friday night’s season opener against Brisbane Roar.
The Casey Fields A-League franchise will be hoping it can pick up where it left off after last season’s 3-1 grand final win against Sydney FC despite limited preparation and some unavailability of some key starts.
“It’s been a long pre-season, and what the players look forward to is playing games, and unfortunately we haven’t been able to play that many,” City coach Patrick Kisnorbo said last week at the new facilities at Casey Fields in Cranbourne.
“It’s exciting for football in Melbourne.”
City tuned up for the season opener with an 0-3 win against South Melbourne last Friday night in the 2021 FFA Cup, despite not having its all-Socceroo front three of Jamie Maclaren, Matthew Leckie and Andrew Nabbout available for selection.
Kisnorbo’s classy unit were typically stoic in their defensive efforts throughout the evening, and managed to create a host of early chances.
It wasn’t until the 23rd minute that South Melbourne’s resistance was broken, with Connor Metcalfe making the most of a Nathaniel Atkinson cross at the edge of the six-yard box.
City went into the break with a 0-1 lead, but saved its best and most destructive football for the second half, with Scotty Galloway stealing the show with a brace.
Galloway’s first goal came through in the 66th minute, with a beauty of a strike streaming past the keeper.
He then backed up his effort with another strike near the post to give City its third goal and to cap off a largely impressive team performance which also saw the team take a good look at some of their youngsters.
The win sees City through to the Round of 16, but has provided ample preparation for the A-League Mens season opener, which kicks off at AAMI Park from 7.45pm on Friday night.
