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MCY vs AKL
A-League Men
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Men
Men
Melbourne City
vs
Auckland FC
2
FT
2
Action
Lineups
All
Facts Only
All
Full-Time: 2 - 2
That wraps things up from this one, but thanks for joining us on Tribe. This is Ryan Nixon (@NewYorkNixon) signing off.
City will be gutted to give away the opportunity for three points, but all in all, a draw is probably a fair result. They were the better side in the first half, but didn't look nearly as assured in the second as Auckland took the game to them. Auckland meanwhile will be pleased to get something from a game where they had to face their first real adversity. They fell behind (twice) for the first time, and were without key players in Dan Hall and Louis Verstraete. The latter's absence in particular saw them struggle at times in midfield, and they'll be hoping he can return as soon as possible.
First, it appeared Auckland had gone ahead when Moreno nodded home following another corner, but VAR spotted Jake Brimmer offside in the lead up, and scrubbed it out to keep things locked up 1-1. Then came a horror moment for Alex Paulsen and Nando Pijnaker, as the latter's back pass took a horrid bobble, Paulsen ended up missing it, and City went back in front. It wasn't enough though, as a pair of free kicks on the edge of the City area gave Auckland a chance to snatch it, and it was Moreno's thumping effort that blew through the gloves of Patrick Beach and snatched the point.
Steve Corica didn't waste any time changing things for the second half, yanking teenaged debutant Finn McKenlay, introducing Neyder Moreno, and dropping Jake Brimmer into a deeper role. Auckland were a completely different team in the second half, buzzing about with more energy and intent, and looking much crisper in possession. They pulled level with Guillermo May nodding home at a corner, and that set things up for a wild old final half hour.
A wild old encounter, but in the end the team share the points and Auckland FC - while not being able to continue their perfect start to the season - remain undefeated. At halftime, there was no indication of anything other than a Melbourne City win, as they dominated the first half, pressuring Auckland into giving away possession time and again, and looking much sharper on the ball. That resulted in a deserved halftime lead courtesy of Medin Memeti's cute finish, and forced Auckland into some strategic changes in the second half.
90+9'
Pijnaker launches the free kick forward, but the flick on ends up being cleared.
90+9'
A shove from Atkinson gives Auckland another free kick, near halfway. Auckland can lump it forward in search of a late winner...
90+8'
City give the ball away in midfield, but Atkinson battles hard and wins it back. It's City who then surge forward through Talbot, but it ends up getting congested around the edge of the box and Auckland clear.
90+6'
Is there another late twist in this game? Auckland win a throw in near halfway, and might fancy pushing for a winner!