A returning hero and a star of the future have combined to earn Melbourne City a key win in their Asian Champions League clash in China.
Socceroo Aziz Behich, with his first goal since his return to City, and teenage striker Max Caputo both hit the target early to help the Australian side beat Chinese Super League side Zhejiang Professional 2-1 in Hangzhou on Wednesday.
The victory puts City on top of group H on four points, ahead of Japanese side Ventforet Kofu, who had earlier beaten Thailand's Buriram United 1-0.
City had drawn a blank in their opening draw with Kofu but were quickly on the scoresheet on Wednesday through Behich, who's returned to City after a decade away making his name in Europe.
The intrepid 32-year-old fullback, who had such an impressive World Cup in Qatar, again enjoyed gracing the international stage, taking advantage of confusion in the home defence to pounce and fashion a lovely curling strike to put the visitors ahead after just four minutes.
The 18-year-old prospect Caputo then struck in the 17th minute to head home from a Marin Jakolis cross.
But City's bright start was rudely interrupted a couple of minutes later by centre back Samuel Souprayen being adjudged to have fouled Zhejiang's striker Leonardo, though the contact seemed minimal, in the box. The Brazilian picked himself up to convert the penalty.
Despite not seeing as much of the ball as the home side, City continued to carve out chances, with Jamie Maclaren having a second-half goal ruled out for offside and the visitors' two goalscorers combining well for Caputo to come close again after the break, with his shot being saved before Hamza Sakhi missed a sitter with the rebound.
Zhejiang had their own chances but City keeper Jamie Young denied Jean Kouassi with a fine reflex save and Leonardo hit one wide from close range.
On matchday three, Rado Vidosic's men will travel to Thailand to face Buriram while Zhejiang will host Kofu.
