Melbourne City Youth have continued their strong start to the National Youth League season, seeing off Newcastle Jets 2-1 at La Trobe University.
An own goal and a Wade Dekker strike capped off a commanding first half for the hosts, with the visitors only managing to score a late consolation goal through Braedyn Crowley.
Tando Velaphi made a strong claim for first team action early, pulling off a stunning save to deny Nicholas Olsen from a free kick.
City had the best chance to score in the 25th minute when Phil Petreski and Stefan Mauk combined, with the latter teeing up Marc Marino from the right wing, but the striker’s close range shot was desperately blocked by Jets’ ‘keeper John Solari.
They weren’t to be denied five minutes later when Ross Archibald played Mauk through with the wind holding the ball up by the byline, and his searching dink into the box was deflected in for an own goal by Steve Whyte.
Wade Dekker then extended the lead, latching onto a long ball that was headed on by Herman Espindola and finishing neatly past Solari.
After dealing with an early period of Jets’ pressure after the break, the hosts nearly pounced on the counter when Paolo Retre’s long ball was met by Mauk, whose one-two with Garuccio resulted in a shot that hit the side netting.
Newcastle eventually pulled a goal back with minutes remaining when Brandon Lundy cut a ball back for Crowley to tap in.
Two late chances for City to finish the game went begging, with Espindola missing an open net, and Marino shooting right at the ‘keeper from a one-on-one situation.
Melbourne City Youth 2 (Whyte (OG) 25′, Dekker 39′) defeated Newcastle Jets 1 (Crowley 83′)
Melbourne City: 1. Tando VELAPHI (GK), 3. Connor CHAPMAN, 4. Ross ARCHIBALD (C), 5. Tom KING, 6. Stefan MAUK, 7. Hernan ESPINDOLA, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Marc MARINO, 11. Wade DEKKER, 12, Phil PETRESKI, 13. Ben GARUCCIO
Subs: 2. Tyler JAMES, 14. Andrew MULLET, 15. Luke GALLO, 20. Lajos OLIVIERA (GK)
Newcastle Jets: 2. Michael FINLAYSON, 3. Thomas WHITESIDE, 4. Roman HOFMANN, 5. Benjamin HAY, 6. Michael KANTAROVSKI, 7. James VIRGILI (C), 8. Steve WHYTE, 9. Radovan PAVICEVIC, 10. Nicholas OLSEN, 11. Brandon LUNDY, 20. John SOLARI (GK)
Subs: 1. Jesse COOK (GK), 12. Andrew PAWIAK, 14. Mitch COOPER, 15. Braedyn CROWLEY