There are so many talking points from that five goal thriller it’s hard to know where to start.
Melbourne City deserve immense credit for holding on in the second half and showing the character they were criticised for lacking earlier in the season. Western Sydney played their part in a blistering night of football and were a few misplaced final balls and Thomas Sorensen away from returning to the top of the ladder.
Despite five goals the key talking point is going to be the disallowed goal at 2-2. “He blew the whistle, I don’t know why he called it back,” Mitch Nichols told Fox Sports after the match.
90 minutes is not enough to evaluate City’s revised formation but in the first half it looked potent as an attacking option but in the second it looked a liability defensively. However, with the quality of Mooy, Novillo and Fornaroli in the line-up it hardly matters how the eight blokes behind them are structuring themselves.
Both these sides will be there at the business end of the season and the three points for City pushes them back into third spot, just one win from the summit. The Wanderers remain in second place on goal difference behind Brisbane Roar.
Thank you for joining me, I’m heading for the beer fridge and settling in for the return of Andy Keogh. Catch you next time.
Full-time: Melbourne City 3-2 Western Sydney Wanderers
City win! Incredible match and an incredible result for Melbourne City. They were on the ropes all second half but snatched the decisive goal late on. The disallowed strike ten minutes from time will be a talking point but the Wanderers’ ten-game unbeaten run is over.
FT | City 3-2 Wanderers Wow, what a game! What a win! A late @novillo_harry goal seals it! #MCYvWSW #together pic.twitter.com/dZxwvsVpoc
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) January 9, 2016
Alternatively...
We should have won 3-2 when Mark Bridge scored the winner. Instead, we lose #WSW #MCYvWSW pic.twitter.com/hDwUQLiPqh
— WS Wanderers FC (@wswanderersfc) January 9, 2016
Updated
90 + 4 min: Castelen hasn’t given up, he again gets to the byline and wraps his foot around the ball but Nichols can’t convert.
90 +2 min: Mooy almost puts the game to bed with a shot across Redmayne that misses the far post.
90 min: Four minutes of added time for the Wanderers to extend their ten-game unbeaten run.
89 min: That goal has given City a new lease of life in midfield. Tackles are snapping, the crowd is rocking and Wanderers attackers are being double teamed. Nichols does well to create a shooting chance on the edge of City’s box but Sorensen does well to claim it low to his right.
GOAL! Melbourne City 3-2 Western Sydney Wanderers (Novillo 84)
Would you believe it? City have the lead back! A rare spell of attacking pressure results in the ball finding Novillo on the edge of the box and he cuts in on his right foot and slams a low curling drive past Redmayne’s left hand. Magnificent strike from the Frenchman. Totally against the run of play. Massive moment in the season for Melbourne City.
83 min: End to end again here at AAMI Park but not at the breakneck speed of the first half. Both sides trying manfully to win this but fatigue is affecting the final ball and shot. Mebrahtu the latest Wanderer to find Sorensen’s imposing frame in his way.
82 min: Rare attack for City and Novillo blasts a good chance into the side netting.
Disallowed goal!
80 min: Controversy again between these teams at AAMI Park as the Wanderers think they’ve scored from a quickly taken free kick. The referee curtails the celebrations and the Wanderers are furious. To be fair to the visitors it did look as though Gillett had blown his whistle to allow play to restart. Lucky escape for City!
Updated
78 min: Those substitutions and a few midfield fouls have broken the game up a little bit, much to Melbourne City’s favour.
Vidosic replaced by Mebrahtu. Plenty of former teammates on display tonight.
76 min: Actually, City have switched to a back four with Clisby alongside Kisnorbo in the centre and an extra body to stem the tide in midfield. Castelen still able to get to the byline and stab a cross in though. Can City hold out?
73 min: Sorensen again saves City! Wanderers turning the screw with a series of corners. From one, Bridge drives in a shot that looks to wrongfoot Sorensen but he manages to get a mitt onto it and keep it out - just!
Trifiro on for Hughes, Paartalu moving into the back three. Will that change things for City?
70 min: City’s passing is nowhere near as crisp as it was in the first half, making attacking transition impossible. The Wanderers are capitalising on every errant touch and Castelen again benefits, driving in a low shot that’s parried at the near post by the overworked Sorensen. If there is going to be a winner tonight, there’s only one team looking likely right now.
Zullo the latest in the book.
68 min: Castelen is causing all sorts for the City defence, running at the back three with pace, twisting and turning into the box. Again the final ball is lacking and the attack breaks down.
David Williams becomes the first Heart/City player to make 100 appearances for the club, replacing Jacob Melling.
66 min: Amazing double save from Sorensen! City can’t clear their lines and it’s wave after wave of attack. First Castelen is repelled and then Bridge by City’s stopper. Both strong blocks from the man in yellow. This is a real show of force from Tony Popovic’s side this half.
64 min: You fancy City need to change something or Western Sydney will overrun them soon. So much space in midfield now for Andreu, Dimas, and Nichols. Castelen prospers from this, reaches the byline but his cross can’t be turned in.
62 min: Castelen through one on one with Sorensen and the big Dane redeems himself with a strong block. Wanderers all over City now.
GOAL! Melbourne City 2-2 Western Sydney Wanderers (Hughes OG 60)
Tragedy for Aaron Hughes! The Wanderers drive a cross in from the right channel, Hughes sticks out a leg and watches the ball skim past Sorensen who had already moved from his line.
59 min: Romeo Castelen and Michael Zullo come on for Piovaccari and Garuccio. Handy pair of substitutes.
57 min: More Wanderers possession but crosses don’t hit their targets and City survive. Only one side in it in the ten minutes since the interval. City’s wingbacks pushed back into defence and their central midfield unable to put a foot on the ball.
55 min: City not really gelling as an attacking threat since the break. Wanderers doing much better at retaining possession in transition and breaking up City attacks in midfield.
Nichols tries his luck again, this time from distance, but it’s straight at Sorensen.
53 mins: Nichols free in the box again and after good work from Piovaccari the shot’s well blocked by Clisby. The Wanderers front four all finding time on the ball in dangerous areas. City riding their luck a little at the start of the second half.
51 min: Nichols this time finding room on the left side of City’s defence. This back three or five looks porous. The final ball wasn’t good enough but the Wanderers are sure to have more opportunities if this continues.
48 min: Vidosic with the first chance of the half, ghosting in behind the widest of the three City centre halves, but his shot is high, and from an offside position it turns out.
Not the frenetic end to end action we’ve become accustomed to. Not yet anyway...
46 min: No changes at half time. Let’s hope the second half is as exciting as the first.
While I’m away, feel free to peruse the match report from Sydney FC’s 2-0 win over Newcastle Jets earlier today. Ali Abbas, what a story.
Updated
Half-time: Melbourne City 2-1 Western Sydney Wanderers
What a fantastic half of A-League action. Entertaining from the off, chances wherever you look and three goals on the scoreboard. Both goalkeepers were busy and both were at fault at crucial moments.
I’m off for a short spell in a dark room to gather my thoughts and ice my fingertips. See you in ten minutes.
HT | City 2-1 Wanderers End to end football tonight as we head into the break 2-1 up thanks to Fornaroli & Novillo pic.twitter.com/NxNvhYsL8j
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) January 9, 2016
Updated
45 min: The manic pace of the opening half hour has abated but both sides look likely to create chances in possession. That City back three has massive holes in it and Bridge almost gets through again as the excellent Vidosic feeds him on the inside right channel.
43 min: Bridge fluffs his lines again! It should be 2-2. Andreu threads a majestic pass down the right and the pullback reaches Bridge with bags of time in the penalty area but he screws his shot wide of the post.
42 min: Redmayne again forced into a save thanks to some more gorgeous interplay around the Wanderers box. Mooy central to all, jinking and flicking like an operatic conductor in a Voldemort mask.
Goals, high-tempo and highly entertaining - this is what we need more of! This fixture is a fabulous advert for the A-League. #MCYvWSW
— Lucy Zelic (@LucyZelic) January 9, 2016
39 min: City back on the front foot and some lovely interplay results in Fornaroli’s overhead kick dribbling wide of Redmayne’s post. Wanderers haven’t got to grips with the different lines being run by City’s wingbacks and the pockets of space Fornaroli drifts into.
36 min: Western Sydney are not finding it easy to break out of defence but when they do they look like getting behind City’s back three at will. Nichols and Piovaccari are called offside in quick succession but it’s easy to see more goals from the visitors.
Clisby now with a yellow card.
33 mins: City’s forward pressure is the story of the half. The Wanderers just can’t escape from their own territory with any comfort. Mooy this time walloping one from the edge of the box, repelled well by Redmayne.
31 min: City almost score straight from the kick-off but Redmayne makes a fantastic save to deny Fornaroli. Mooy then nearly scores direct from a corner.
Meanwhile, Novillo is the first player into the referee’s notebook.
GOAL! Melbourne City 2-1 Western Sydney Wanderers (Nichols 29)
Howler from Sorensen! Mitch Nichols beats the City offside trap, shoots early and the big dane palms the ball into his own net.
Gee whizz, this is thrilling stuff!
Photograph: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
Updated
27 min: What a round this is turning out to be. What a player Bruno Fornaroli is turning out to be.
The second goal only improves on replay. Sorensen with the quick throw, Mooy with the run and pass, Fornaroli with the predatory instincts. It looks deceptively simple at times.
City revolve entirely around Mooy but when he’s there, the supporting cast is exceptional.
— Kevin Airs (@KevinAirs442) January 9, 2016
GOAL! Melbourne City 2-0 Western Sydney Wanderers (Fornaroli 24)
Wow! The home side are under the cosh but a quick throw from Sorensen sets up a Mariners-like counterattack that releases Formaroli in acres of space behind the visiting defence and he makes no mistake. Credit to Aaron Mooy also with the assist but that was all about El Tuna.
Updated
23 min: Good spell for Wanderers. Vidosic forces a save out of Sorensen with a header after good work from Piovaccari. The Italian then springs the offside trap but loses his footing on the edge of the City box. Sorensen is then forced to concede a corner from an audacious lob from Bridge.
21 min: Alberto makes an important sliding challenge to deny Novillo on the counter. City don’t give up though and the ball eventually falls to Garuccio whose shot is charged down.
The triumvirate of Mooy, Novillo and Fornaroli in this formation looks sublime.
19 min: Replays of Novillo’s early goal don’t flatter Andrew Redmayne who’s made a nervous return to AAMI Park. Novillo picked a spot that should have been covered by the goalkeeper but it was a lovely strike.
Piovaccari offside - Drink!
17 min: Nichols and Vidosic look the most likely for the Wanderers. That pair link well down the right but the final ball evades Dimas. Nichols’ ability to find space between lines makes him a tricky customer to lock down.
15 min: Wanderers prosper in matches that are compact, methodical, and dominated by the dual pivot of Dimas and Andreu. City not having any of that tonight. This is high pressure, rapid and stretched. Retre and Garuccio have started well down the flanks setting a mean tempo.
13 min: Huge miss from Mark Bridge! Quick transition ends with Vidosic curling in a teasing cross from the right that Bridge heads wide unmarked. Should be 1-1.
City go down the other end and Redmayne makes a hash of things, conceding a corner.
10 min: City nearly double their lead! The home side dominating in midfield, the ball finding its way to Garuccio on the left and his cross is met well by the head of Fornaroli, forcing a fingertip save from Redmayne.
This is a different Melbourne City from the last time these sides met here.
GOAL! Melbourne City 1-0 Western Sydney Wanderers (Novillo 8)
8 min: City’s forward pressure is causing problems for the Wanderers. A few turnovers have been forced in attacking situations and from one Topor-Stanley’s hand interrupts the ball on the edge of the penalty area.
Everyone expects Mooy to take it but Novillo steps up to curl it over the wall and inside the far post past Redmayne’s dive.
What a start!
7' | GOOOALLLLL CITY! What a start as @novillo_harry nails home a ripping free kick! 1-0!! #MCYvWSW pic.twitter.com/Pdr8lf6weu
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) January 9, 2016
Updated
5 min: First chance of the game falls to Dario Vidosic. Freed down the right hand side he cuts inside Jack Clisby but shoots left-footed straight at Sorensen.
The ball immediately switches to the other end where Bruno Fornaroli curls one wide from the edge of the box.
This is lively!
2 min: Predictably helter-skelter start to the game with both goalkeepers called into action with their feet to make decisive interceptions. City look like their formation could give them joy down the flanks in these early stages.
Peeeeeeep!!!!!!
The Wanderers get us underway in their red and black hoops, black shorts and black socks, attacking the City end of AAMI Park. Melbourne City in white shirts, shorts and sky blue socks and attacking the Yarra end.
Referee Jarred Gillett is overseeing the prematch formalities with kick-off just a few moments away.
Crowd predicted to be in the 11,000 range at AAMI Park which is quite a big deal for Melbourne City away from derbies.
It’s already been a stellar round. Last night we had perhaps the game of the season with the Mariners frightening the life out of Melbourne Victory before Besart Berisha did his thing. 3-3 was the final result and a great advertisement for Geelong.
In the earlier game today Ali Abbas marked his return from over 400 days out through injury with a goal in a 2-0 win for Sydney FC. Newcastle Jets’ goal drought is now the second longest in A-League history.
@JPHowcroft harsh on @StefanMauk #droppingout should read #awayonolyroosduty
— Rebel Web Solutions (@RebelSolutions) January 9, 2016
Aye, Mauk would be in the squad were he not on Olyroos duty. Enjoying an impressive season. Not sure the switch to 3-5-2 enhances his chances of game time though, unless JVS starts managing Mooy’s minutes.
Prediction? I’m going for 2-2. There are always goals when City are involved and the Wanderers just don’t lose. Fornaroli and Bridge to get their names on the scoresheet.
What do you reckon?
Warm ups all done here at @AAMIPark and kick-off is minutes away...What are your predictions for tonight? #MCYvWSW pic.twitter.com/cdIKiS3dh0
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) January 9, 2016
Updated
Remember, if you want to contribute you can do so via Twitter @JPHowcroft or by email: jonathan.howcroft.freelance@guardian.co.uk - and I’d love to hear from you. It can get lonely in Guardian Towers at this time on a Saturday night.
Stat attack:
- Western Sydney Wanderers have won seven and drawn two of their 10 matches against Melbourne City in the A-League.
- Melbourne City have scored 32 goals so far in the A-League this season; 10 more than any other team.
- Western Sydney Wanderers have kept three clean sheets in their last four A-League matches.
- Melbourne City are one of only two teams yet to be involved in a nil-all draw so far this season.
- Federico Piovaccari has been caught offside 20 times this season, the equal most of any player in the competition.
- Both Harry Novillo and Bruno Fornaroli have made 34 shots at goal this season, the equal second most of any player in the competition.
Looking at Melbourne City’s teamsheet it seems John van’t Schip will line up with a 3-5-2. It’s been discussed in the press for a while and trialled in the second half of last week’s draw but it’ll be a big test to unleash it against such formidable opposition.
Wingbacks Garuccio and Retre in particular will have their work cut out. Once Ivan Franjic and Michael Zullo are fully fit and operating in tandem it’s easy to see how this formation could show off the range of the City squad. In their absence the two youngsters will have to combat a Wanderers side that plays with genuine forward width and rampaging fullbacks.
Western Sydney Wanderers team news
Tony Popovic has made two changes to his starting eleven after the New Year’s Day stalemate with Adelaide United. Jacob Pepper comes in for the suspended Scott Neville while Dario Vidosic is preferred to Romeo Castelen.
Liam Reddy’s appearance on the bench places Andrew Redmayne on notice with the former Mariner formalising his relationship with the Wanderers during the recently opened transfer window.
Bench: Liam Reddy (GK), Jonathan Aspropotamitis, Kearyn Baccus, Romeo Castelen, Golgol Mebrahtu #WSW #MCYvWSW
— WS Wanderers FC (@wswanderersfc) January 9, 2016
Melbourne City team news
The major selection news for Melbourne City is the axing of international marquee Robert Koren from the matchday squad. No injury-related explanation has been given by City with the presumption being John van’t Schip is making a statement to his underwhelming playmaker.
Our team is in for tonight's clash with the Wanderers! #MCYvWSW #together pic.twitter.com/u3c43ITAec
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) January 9, 2016
From last week’s 2-2 draw with Sydney FC, City have brought in Paulo Retre (suspension) Erik Paartalu (injury), Aaron Mooy (injury) and Ben Garuccio (promoted). Koren, Stefan Mauk, Ali Eyigun and Matthew Millar drop out.
Dean Bouzanis makes his first appearance on the City bench following his transfer from the Wanderers earlier this week.
Preamble
Good evening folks and welcome to the biggest match of this A-League round with second placed Western Sydney Wanderers travelling to fourth placed Melbourne City. It should be a belter. Melbourne City are the free scoring entertainers of the competition while the Wanderers have arguably the most imposing in-form first XI.
This pair met at AAMI Park just eight rounds ago in a match dominated by the Wanderers. That 3-0 victory was their third match of an unbeaten run that now stretches to ten games. On that November night controversy reigned as Federico Piovaccari tapped in the second goal after Melbourne City’s players had stopped playing, expecting referee Peter Green to blow his whistle for offside. The Wanderers can expect the home crowd to be more involved in this one than usual as a consequence.
Following that defeat it was hard to see where City’s season was heading but four wins in their next five matches saw them rocket up the table. Now with an almost fully fit squad, City can boast the league’s best player in Aaron Mooy and its most dangerous goalscorer in Bruno Fornaroli. It’s been a long time coming but the City juggernaut is building a head of steam.
Now, what about those line-ups...
Updated
JP will be here shortly to take you through all of tonight’s live action but in the meantime, why not check out Joe Gorman’s thoughts on the tenth anniversary of Australia’s move to join the Asian Football Confederation.
