A-League

Melbourne City Dominates Perth Glory

Published

2 weeks ago

11/10/2024

Dominant City Showcases Firepower in Big Win Over Perth Glory

In a spectacular away performance, Melbourne City delivered a decisive 5-0 win over Perth Glory on Sunday night. The victory was driven by a first-half brace from Steven Ugarkovic, with Andreas Kuen, Yonatan Cohen, and young striker Medin Memeti each adding their first City goals in the second half. This comprehensive win gives Melbourne City a major boost as they head into a 20-day break.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 10: Steven Ugarkovic of Melbourne City celebrates his goal during the round four A-League Men match between Perth Glory and Melbourne City at HBF Park, on November 10, 2024, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)

Team News – Vidmar’s Line-Up Changes Pay Off

City Head Coach Aurelio Vidmar was forced to adjust his starting XI, opting to bring 17-year-old Medin Memeti into the frontline for his first senior start and returning Yonatan Cohen to the attack following his recent illness. Vidmar’s tactical adjustments proved effective, with City’s cohesive play and relentless pressure putting Perth on the back foot from the outset.

Starting XI:
33. Patrick BEACH (GK), 22. Callum TALBOT, 27. Kai TREWIN, 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN, 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 6. Steven UGARKOVIC, 30. Andreas KUEN, 10. Yonatan COHEN, 38. Harry POLITIDIS, 35. Medin MEMETI

Substitutes:

Jamie YOUNG (GK), 7. Mathew LECKIE, 8. Jimmy JEGGO, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 42. Ben DUNBAR, 46. Ben MAZZEO, 47. Kavian RAHMANI

: First Half – Ugarkovic’s Brilliance Sets City on Path to Victory

City showed promise from the opening whistle, creating several early chances. Steven Ugarkovic tested Glory keeper Oli Sail in the 6th minute, and Yonatan Cohen’s clever cross found Ugarkovic again, forcing another save with a glancing header. Memeti also created opportunities, though Perth’s defense managed to hold the line until the 39th minute.

City’s breakthrough finally came as Ugarkovic seized on a deflected clearance and sent a powerful strike from outside the box into the back of the net, putting City ahead 1-0. Just five minutes later, after a build-up involving Cohen, Memeti, and Kuen, Ugarkovic pounced on a loose ball in the box, notching his second goal of the night and giving City a commanding lead at the break.

Second Half – City Unleashes, Kuen, Cohen, and Memeti Add to the Scoreline

Vidmar’s team wasted no time in the second half, with Kuen capitalizing on a defensive miscue by Glory just 20 seconds after the restart to make it 3-0. Schreiber’s steady play in midfield and Souprayen and Trewin’s solid defense allowed City to control the tempo as they continued pressing for more goals.

In the 83rd minute, Cohen’s persistence paid off as he received a well-placed pass from Dunbar, cut inside, and curled a stunning left-footed shot into the far corner. The final goal came from City’s Academy talents, as 17-year-old Kavian Rahmani orchestrated a brilliant sequence, setting up fellow academy product Ben Dunbar, who then found Memeti for a cool finish at the back post.

What’s Next for Melbourne City?

Following this impressive win, Melbourne City heads into an extended break due to the international fixture window. Their next A-League challenge comes on Saturday, 30 November, when they host Juan Mata and the Wanderers.