Melbourne City left it late to notch up their second consecutive win after a James Brown tap-in in injury time gave the hosts a 2-1 victory over FFA Centre of Excellence.
It could’ve gone in a number of different directions for City however as they made a meal of the plentiful chances they created for themselves.
Ironically, it was Brown who was one of the main culprits for wasteful finishing in the front third, but the former Newcastle man redeemed himself with his late showing.
Earlier, winger Wade Dekker had put City into another early lead, before seeing that lead cut back on the stroke of half-time via a Daniel Arzani penalty.
The opening 45 minutes belonged entirely to the hosts as they created a raft of clear-cut opportunities, but were their own worst enemy as they spurned a number of chances.
The link up between midfield and forward line however was telling in the contest as Melbourne City created havoc in the FFA COE box.
The first true chance saw Marc Marino – fresh off two NYL goals last week – intricately scoop a ball towards James Brown – who looked good in his first 90 minutes of the season – but the winger failed to force his strike goal bound.
Visiting keeper James Delianov was eventually tested early in the piece by Brown, who curled an effort into the arms of the custodian.
The young senior – or senior youngster – Paulo Retre was the next to try his luck as he turned on a dime to create a yard of space, but his shot was well blocked by the trailing leg of the NTC defender.
Fourth time was the charm for City however as Wade Dekker rose highest from a perfect near post set-piece from Jacob Melling to nod his side into a deserved lead.
Dekker continued on with his early season form as he went agonisingly close to his brace, as full-back Nick Symeoy marauded down the right to eventually set up the goal scorer for another chance, which he in turn blazed over the crossbar.
City were made to rue that mistake by the half’s close as the tricky Daniel Arzani weaved his way through heavy traffic before eventually being hacked down inside the area.
He then made no mistake, slotting home his self-earned spot kick wide left to restore parity.
It proved to be one of only a small handful of chances the FFA saw, and the second term followed in the footsteps of the first.
City continued to create, but seemed to waste in equal measure.
Marino missed two chances of his own in the first 15 minutes of the half, scooping the ball wide of the left post before failing to connect onto a fizzing Retre cross.
His worst miss was to come however as he initially did well to fashion a one-on-one chance with the keeper, before inexplicably going both high and wide from 10 yards.
It looked as if the game may have petered out into a stalemate, despite the healthy amount of chances and possession City shared, but Brown had other plans.
The midfielder – who didn’t feature in yesterday’s senior loss to Adelaide – ghosted into the far post in second half stoppage time to tap home a fantastic Marino delivery.
The win was a deserved one for City, who now sit on six points from three games.
Coach Joe Palatsides was philosophical about the late winner, again placing the emphasis on playing a good brand of football.
“Obviously we’re pleased. Part of the learning process is to learn how to win. I congratulated the boys on that today because we wanted to play the game on our terms, which we did,” Palatsides said post game.
“It’s more important for us to make sure we play the style of play that we want. I think the boys did that.
“We moved the ball around well – the way that we could keep the [FFA Centre of Excellence] away from their scoring end was very important.
“I think we put in 90 good minutes today and that was a really pleasing aspect.”
Melbourne City 2 (Dekker 16’, Brown 90+1’) defeated FFA Centre of Excellence 1 (Arzani 39’) at Broadmeadows Valley Park
Melbourne City: 1. Marco STEVANJA (GK), 4. Ross ARCHIBALD (c), 14. Wade DEKKER (15. Anthony RIZK 74’), 9. Marc MARINO (10. Luka PRELEVIC 57’), 6. Stefan MAUK, 8. Jacob MELLING, 3. Andrew MULLETT, 2. Phil PETRESKI, 7. Nick SYMEOY
Unused Substitutes: 20. Yaren SOZER, 12. Leo ATHANASIOU
Yellow Cards: Melling 68’, Mauk 76’
Red Cards: Nil
FFA Centre of Excellence: 18. James DELIANOV (GK), 6. Joe CALETTI (c) (10. Jamie DIMITROFF 64’), 8. Daniel ARZANI, 24. Jackson BANDIERA, 3. Henry DAVIES, 19. Charlie DEVEREUX, 11. Peter KEKERIS (22. Cameron JOICE 70’), 23. Kosta PETRATOS, 21. Jamal REINERS, 5. Zachary SPETH, 2. Malcolm WARD
Unused Substitutes: 1. Duro DRAGICEVIC (GK), 16. Danny KIM
Yellow Cards: Ward 59’, Dimitroff 88’
Red Cards: Nil