It was by no means convincing, but in the end it was the three points – and clean sheet – that Melbourne City so desperately craved. Here are the match ratings from the 1-0 win against Brisbane Roar.
***
GK: Tando Velaphi – 6
Didn’t have too much to do in his first appearance for the season, but when he was required, it was no fuss. Would’ve loved the minutes
LB: Ben Garuccio – 6
Was lackadaisical in possession, and committed a silly foul right on the edge of the area with time running out. Wasn’t his best outing but a clean sheet will do wonders for his confidence.
CB: Paddy Kisnorbo – 7
Continues to give his all, and the Melbourne City fans appreciate the skipper for just that. Was a much improved figure this week, and duly put the 5-1 hiding from Wellington in the past.
✮ CB: Connor Chapman – 8 ✮
Great return to first team action and the young centre-half was a busy bee in the heart of defence. Looks a much more assured figure than the ageing Wielaert and it’s little coincidence that his introduction was coupled with the teams first clean sheet of the season.
RB: Jason Hoffman – 6.5
Was a decent outing for the much maligned full-back. Worked the flank well and did his best work in the forward half. Kept Henrique quiet in the second half to boot.
DM: Erik Paartalu – 5
Starting to sound like a broken record but Paartalu just seems to drift out of games completely. Missed a golden opportunity to open the scoring in the first half and seemed largely disinterested for
CM: Aaron Mooy (1 goal) – 7
Ever consistent, Mooy once again played a large role in City’s win. Set-pieces were a little down on his normal standard but he made up for that in spades by converting the one that mattered most, the penalty kick.
CM: Jacob Melling – 7.5
Great industrious game for the centre midfielder who just needs that little bit of polish to be a real top player in this league. Was robust in the challenge, and kept it simple. Could do with some shooting lessons however.
LW: Mate Dugandzic – 6.5
Won the penalty off Daniel Bowles – or a sniper, or a gust of wind, take your pick – and was quite lively in the second half, teeing up David Williams for a golden chance, but was wasteful when given the chance to strike himself.
ST: James Brown – 6
Was fairly lively in a more central role for City. Did his best work when David Williams came on at half-time, and seemed to enjoy the space gifted to him by a lax Brisbane defence.
RW: Damien Duff – 5
Often isolated on the right, not that it was any fault of his own. His quietest game in a City shirt and was brought off at half-time for David Williams. Did swing in a few decent crosses on the right boot.
Sub: David Williams (on 45’) – 5.5
Missed a sitter to send City 2-0 up and failed to work himself into the contest.
Sub: Iain Ramsay (on 76’) – N/A
Sub: Mass Murdocca (on 83’) – N/A
***
Votes
3. Connor Chapman
2. Jacob Melling
1. Paddy Kisnorbo
TCF Melbourne Medal Running Tally:
45.5 – Aaron Mooy (Melbourne City)
32.5 – Besart Berisha (Melbourne Victory)
30.5 – Damien Duff (Melbourne City)
30 – Fahid Ben Khalfallah (Melbourne Victory)
24.5 – Leigh Broxham (Melbourne Victory)
23 – Kosta Barbarouses (Melbourne Victory)
21 – Jacob Melling (Melbourne City)
16 – Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory)
15.5 – Daniel Georgievski (Melbourne Victory)
15.5 – Adrian Leijer (Melbourne Victory)
15.5 – Dylan Murnane (Melbourne Victory)
15 – David Villa (Melbourne City)
15 – Nathan Coe (Melbourne Victory)
14.5 – Mate Dugandzic (Melbourne City)
14.5 – Paddy Kisnorbo (Melbourne City)
13.5 – Erik Paartalu (Melbourne City)
8.5 – Gui Finkler (Melbourne Victory)
8.5 – Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory)
8 – Connor Chapman (Melbourne City)
8 – Matthieu Delpierre (Melbourne Victory)
8 – Andrew Redmayne (Melbourne City)
6 – David Williams (Melbourne City)