Melbourne City halted Western United’s four-game winning streak with a hard-fought 2-0 victory in the Melbourne derby. Despite dealing with a string of injuries, City’s resilience and the impressive contributions of their younger players proved decisive.
“We are super resilient at the moment and we’ve had to be with all the injuries that we’ve had,” Melbourne City coach Aurelio Vidmar said.
“The young boys have had to step up and they’ve been great. Super resilient. I’ve got to take my hat off to them.”
City’s defensive organisation and clinical finishing were instrumental in ending Western United’s impressive form, which had seen them notch four consecutive wins heading into the match.
“Even though we were suffering throughout that game at times … they just really dug deep,” Vidmar added.
The win solidifies City’s position as one of the league’s top contenders this season, showcasing their ability to perform under pressure.
Meanwhile, Western United coach John Aloisi expressed frustration over receiving a yellow card during the match, believing it was undeserved.
“I still don’t understand why I got a yellow, but I have to deal with it,” Aloisi said. “I wasn’t talking to the fourth official or the referee at that stage, I was talking to someone else.”
The derby highlighted the competitive nature of the A-League, with City’s adaptability and determination proving too much for Western United.
For full match details and analysis, visit the A-League website.