21 Oct McCormack Helps Continue City’s Perfect Start

City striker Ross McCormack scored his first goal in City colours, as Melbourne City secured three points and a 1-0 win against Wellington Phoenix in front of 9,091 people at AAMI Park on Saturday.

It was the Phoenix with the early attack on the ball through Roy Krishna, with the striker getting the first opportunity at goal in the game.

Phoenix had a chance through Goran Paracki and Krishna to silence the City fans early, but both shots were saved by Eugene Galekovic.

It took City about 12 minutes into the game to start pressing forward, and the combination of Stefan Mauk and Nick Fitzgerald with a few opportunities at goal, as both men linked up.

Newly signed forward Ross McCormack gave City their best opportunity with an aerial kick on his left, which went over the bar 10 minutes before the end of the half.

Wellington lost midfielder Marco Rossi to an ankle injury just before half time, and couldn’t continue in the match being replaced by Thomas Doyle.

First opportunity of the second stanza went to City as they pressed forward through McCormack who veered the ball over the bar, another chance gone begging for the home side.

Andrija Kaluderovic had a great chance 60 minutes into the game, one on one with iacopo La Rocca but couldn’t get it past the last defender, as La Rocca’s urgency kept the away side from scoring.

Melbourne City broke the deadlock on 69 minutes through Ross McCormack, with a thumping free from about 30 yards out, which netted the striker with his first goal in City colours.

69′ GOAAAAL | @MelbourneCity break the deadlock from a Ross McCormack free from about 30 yards. (1-0) #MCYvWEL #ALeague #FootballNation

— FootballNATI⚽N (@FootballNATI0N) October 21, 2017

City almost made it 2-0 with Bruce Kamau giving a back heel pass to Nick Fitzgerald, ultimately couldn’t get past Keegan Smith.

McCormack came off after getting booked for a challenge on Goran Paracki, being replaced by Socceroos hero Tim Cahill in the 82nd minute.

Wellington had two opportunities in the 84th minute, with Krishna’s shot hitting the upright, while Kaluderovic’s shot went wide and the visitors squandered away a chance to equalise late in the game.

City manages to hold on to give themselves the perfect start to the season going three for three, as Phoenix question some of the pressure they applied late.