A Hernan Espindola double proved the catalyst for an important three points, as Melbourne City gained ground on ladder leaders Perth Glory with a 2-1 NYL win.
The top of the table clash produced some scintillating football at times on a scorching morning of football in La Trobe’s Lower Playing Fields and it didn’t take long for both sides to find their rhythm.
A strong penalty shout from senior figure Paulo Retre was turned away in the opening stanza, with the midfielder harshly booked for what could only be put down to perceived simulation.
It mattered little for the hosts however as they took the lead with a 20th minute strike courtesy of Espindola.
The in-form midfielder – currently in his last year of NYL – pirouetted on the edge of the box, cutting inside before calmly driving a low shot past Glory’s Jack Duncan in goals.
First team keeper Andrew Redmayne had been a mere spectator up until that point, and when Perth’s enigmatic winger Borbor Sam tried his luck with a speculative chip from 30-yards, the senior shot-stopper ironically could only watch it sail past his diving fingertips for the equaliser.
City went back on the front foot to regain their lead, and their best efforts to do so came through defender Andrew Mullett who forced his way up the pitch to fashion a pair of clear cut chances, both of which he failed to put away.
An open header blasted over the bar preceded his far post attempt, which was inches away from sneaking onto the inside of the Perth goalpost.
@CornerFlagOz the strike by Mullet was only inches wide for @MelbourneCity v @PerthGloryFC in #fnyl 1-1 at half time pic.twitter.com/svNJmtGWWS
— NPL Vic Football (@NPLVic_Football) December 21, 2014
The half belonged to Melbourne, with Perth surprisingly only looking dangerous on the counter, while the City defence more than accounted for the leagues leading goal-scorer Joe Knowles.
They continued on in ominous fashion and through Wade Dekker, nearly broke the deadlock moments after the restart, as Liam Miller found the youngster with his squaring set-piece, only to see the resulting strike pounced on by Perth’s custodian.
Espindola showed his teammate how it’s meant to be done only minutes later as he struck his second of the game in the 55th minute.
A thing of beauty was City’s second goal as Stefan Zinni curled a tantalising ball across the goalmouth only for it to be matched by an even better acrobatic finish by Espindola.
Perth’s danger man Knowles got his first sniff on goal with just under half an hour to play, and the forward nearly made it count, were it not for the outstretched arm of Redmayne, who stood up late when it counted.
City had a number of late chances to seal the game – Miller with the pick of the lot after a stinging first time effort from Retre’s cut back – but in the end, they were happy to settle for the one goal margin against top opposition.
***
Melbourne City 2 (Espindola 20’ 55’) defeated Perth Glory 1 (Sam 24’)
Melbourne City: 1. Andrew Redmayne, 4. Ross Archibald (c), 9. Wade Dekker, 7. Hernan Espindola, 3. Tom King, 5. Andrew Mullett, 12. Phil Petreski, 11. Stefan Zinni, 2. Paulo Retre, 6. Liam Miller, 14. Jonatan Germano
Substitutes: 20. Lajos Oliviera, 13. Leo Athanasiou, 15. Luke Gallo, 2. Tyler James,
Yellow Cards: Retre 16’, Redmayne 70’
Red Cards: Nil
Perth Glory: 1. Jack Duncan (GK), 3. Jacob Collard (c), 2. Ali Gholami, 9. Joe Knowles, 8. Harry O’Brien, 6. Mitchell Oxborrow, 7. Borbor Sam, 11. Slobodan Vulin, 5. Riley Woodcock, 10. Cameron Edwards, 4. Jack Clisby
Substitutes: 20. Ryan Barker (GK), 13. Jack Iredale, 15. Stef Valenti, 14. Calvin Whitney
Yellow Cards: Clisby 50’ Iredale 72’
Red Cards: Nil