City edge out Brisbane Roar

Melbourne City FC’s Foxtel National Youth League side survived a late scare from the Brisbane Roar to bridge the gap to Perth Glory at the top of the FNYL ladder.

Prolific striker Wade Dekker proved once again why he is one of the hottest young prospects at the Club, adding another double to help his side to the 3-2 win.

It almost seemed it was going to be a walk in the park for the home side as Anthony Rizk opened the scoring in the 6th minute. Rizk was the beneficiary of Dekker’s brilliant run through the Roar defence as he found himself space to slot home.

The reply from Brisbane was swift, levelling the scores only 8 minutes later. Shannon Brady worked his way through the Melbourne City FC defence as he picked up a line-splitting ball to restore parity.

Brisbane found the ascendancy and had a goal disallowed but Melbourne City FC showed why they are at the summit of the FNYL table, regaining the lead before the break. Dekker went from supplier to scorer as he coolly tapped in Hernan Espindola’s cutback to make it 2-1.

The home side pushed to put the game beyond doubt and were rewarded in the 71st minute when Dekker picked up his second for the afternoon.

The striker showed his complete repertoire, winning the ball in the middle, cutting through the Roar defence and slotting home to send his side into equal first place bar goal difference.

There was late drama once again for the FNYL side, a theme prevalent throughout their season, as Brady found his second for the afternoon but it wasn’t enough as Melbourne City FC picked up the three points.

Next up for the FNYL side is the Central Coast Mariners away on Saturday 3 January. Their next home match is against Sydney FC on Saturday 24 January at Morshead Park, Ballarat.

Match Details

Foxtel National Youth League, Round 11

Sunday 28 December, 2014

Melbourne City FC 3 (Rizk 6′, Dekker 32′, 71′)

Brisbane Roar 2 (Brady 14′, 88′)

Venue: La Trobe University, Lower Playing FIelds

Melbourne City FC: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 4. Ross ARCHIBALD (c), 9. Wade DEKKER, 7. Hernan ESPINDOLA, 3. Tom KING, 5. Andrew MULLETT, 12. Phil PETRESKI, 11. Anthony RIZK, 14. Jonatan GERMANO, 8. Paulo RETRE, 6. Liam MILLER

Substitutes: 20. Marko STEVANJA (GK), 13. Leo ATHANASIOU, 10. Luka PRELEVIC, 15. Stefan ZINNI

Yellow Cards: Retre 18’, Petreski 54’, King 81’

Red Cards: Nil

Brisbane Roar: 21. Tomislav BILIC (GK), 14. Shannon BRADY, 3. Cameron CRESTANI, 20. Nicholas D’Agostino, 13. Mitchell HORE, 18. Lachlan JACKSON, 15. Jordon LAMPARD, 7. Benjamin LIFTIN (c), 4. Sandro PASALIC, 6. Luke PAVLOU, 16. Patrick THEODORE 

Substitutes: 1. Fraser CHALMERS (GK), 19. Shelford DAIS, 12. Logan GRILLO, 11. Samual SIBATUARA

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil