Melbourne City Pulls Off Miraculous Win Against Machida Zelvia!
Melbourne City has achieved a historic victory, securing a thrilling 2-1 away win against Machida Zelvia in the AFC Champions League Elite. Andrew Nabbout's stoppage-time goal and Patrick Beach's stellar performance sealed the deal for the Aussie side.
Aurelio Vidmar's team, boasting a youthful squad with nine Academy graduates and an average starting XI age of just 22.8 years, demonstrated remarkable resilience against a strong Machida team. This victory marks back-to-back continental wins, significantly boosting their chances of reaching the knockout stage.
Vidmar made several changes to the lineup, giving opportunities to the next generation as experienced players like Aziz Behich and Mathew Leckie remained in Melbourne. Harry Shillington, Zane Schreiber, Beckham Baker, Emin Durakovic, and Kavian Rahmani were all included in the starting XI, showcasing the depth of City's squad.
Early Lead and Fierce Competition
City got off to a dream start thanks to an own goal by Machida defender Gen Shoji within the first minute. However, Machida quickly recovered and mounted a strong challenge. Despite their patchy domestic form, Machida is undefeated in this year's ACL Elite and is a tough opponent. This victory shows Melbourne City's determination and ability to perform under pressure on the international stage.
Vidmar's Vision
Vidmar acknowledged the difficulty of the match in Tokyo, emphasizing the strength of Machida and the need for aggression. His focus on youth development and tactical flexibility proved crucial in securing this memorable win. The team's performance underscores the club's commitment to nurturing young talent and competing at the highest level.
- Patrick Beach: Goalkeeper
- Harry Shillington: Defender
- Andrew Nabbout: Goal scorer