Interesting Hit out For City

Interesting Hit out For City

By Mark Humphrey

Aaron Mooy was busy for City in the 1st half

History was made tonight as the re-badged Melbourne City FC took to the Morshead Park pitch in Ballarat for their first ever hit out in the City strip against NPL team the Ballarat Red Devils.

Although it was a complete mismatch between the 2 sides with the more superior A-League team Melbourne City expected to dominate, interest lay in the set up and balance of the team and more importantly the new faces donning the City jersey.

Massimo Murdocca shows off the new city strip in less than perfect weather conditions.

Plenty of regular faces took to the pitch for the first half with Mate Dugandzic dominating down the left hand side of the pitch. Dugandzic worked in well with David Williams crossing the ball between each other on several occasions during the half. Dugandzic was especially dangerous in front of goal and had posted 2 first half goals inside the first 10 minutes. Williams was also able to put one into the back of the net courtesy of a clever Dugandzic cross but missed another opportunity later on in the half. For Williams to take the next step it is imperative that he takes the half chances that often get presented to him. His general play is clever and more often than not he finds himself in the right spot only to let himself down with some substandard shooting. Robbie Wielaert found himself forward and managed to also score for the visitors giving them a 4-0 lead at the break.

Although the game was played in poor conditions the re-badged City team looked much the same as the old Heart. The forward structure was non-existent with only Dugandzic able to break the lines and score freely. Without the efforts of Dugandzic the team resembled much of what we got last year. There didn’t seem to be any structure going into attack with the front of the goals looking more like Bourke Street on a busy shopping day. Time after time the ball was sent into the pack with the Red Devils able to repel the ball with ease. It was only when City found the outside players that they looked threatening. There didn’t seem to be any points of recognition as far as an attacking plan goes with most congregating down the tram lines. Take out the scoring efforts of Dugandzic and Williams to a lesser degree and Melbourne City looked to struggle against an opposition team that although gallant had nowhere near the quality of player.

City went into the break leading 4-0 as the rain continued to tumble. Nothing in the first half outside of Dugandzic looked to be positive with regards to constructive scoring. As always the City defence was rock solid allowing the Red Devils only one genuine scoring opportunity during the first half which was easily kept out by Tando Velaphi.

Wholesale changes were made at half time with 11 new guys hitting the pitch for the second half action.

The first thing you noticed about the new look team was the attacking style of play. Time after time City ran the ball down the line to players like Ben Garuccio and Jacob Melling who were breaking the lines with ease and setting up scoring opportunities with perfectly placed crosses. All of a sudden City looked to have a plan with players setting up out wide ready to expose their opposition. Billy Konstantinidis set up out front and was a focal point during the half with Melling, Garuccio and Anthony Rizk continually getting the ball to the top of the square. Some of the crosses laid up by the forwards were done with pin point accuracy and even though City players found themselves out of position to capitalise, it was an encouraging aspect of the half and no doubt something for City supporters to hang their hat on.

Ben Garuccio livened up the game in the second half

Massimo Murdocca was busy in front of goal and one piece of play from the little dynamo was simply stunning as he moved the ball past several opponents wrong footing them all. Murdocca seemed to fit in well with the explosive breaks created by the City forwards. Konstantinidis headed in the City’s 5^th with James Brown dropping the 6^th after Konstantinidis had dropped the ball dead in front of goal.

All up it wasn’t a bad hit out for both teams but as expected City dominated the game with some exciting 2^nd half play that just might be the future of the club. City fans definitely have something to look forward to as the club works towards the season proper. No date has been set for their next hit out but check their web site for future announcements.

CITY ACTION

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