Dekker stars as City win ugly

NYL

by Jordan Lim December 28, 2014 6:08 pm0

Despite coach Joe Palatsides labelling it as their “worst performance of the year” it was still enough for Melbourne City to topple a spirited Brisbane Roar outfit 3-2 in their NYL clash on Sunday afternoon.

A sweltering contest at La Trobe’s Lower Playing Fields produced plenty of goals for the healthy crowd that braved the elements.

Wade Dekker was once again the star with two goals and an assist, with Anthony Rizk nabbing the opener.

For Brisbane, it was Shannon Brady who put on a finishing masterclass, as he grabbed a brace of his own to keep his side in the contest.

The game started off in perfect fashion for Melbourne City, as they broke swiftly to have an opening goal within six minutes.

Having earlier missed an opportunity delivered by Liam Miller, man of the match Dekker went on a barnstorming run through the middle of the ground before unselfishly laying off to his teammate Rizk for the easiest of openers.

It wasn’t too long before the Roar had their equaliser, as Brady broke clear of a stagnant City backline, latching onto a well weighted through ball before expertly dispatching across the face of Andrew Redmayne’s goals.

The momentum began to swing towards the visitors and they were an inch away from taking the lead, with the linesman adjudging Patrick Theodore to be offside by the narrowest of margins, despite having rounded Redmayne with an open goal bearing.

City duly made them pay through striker Dekker who grabbed his first of the afternoon in a carbon copy of the opener.

This time however it was Hernan Espindola who supplied the final ball in, with Dekker ghosting to the penalty spot to tap home for 2-1.

Nicholas D’Agostino had a chance on the stroke of half-time to equalise, but he could only see his powerful header over the bar.

Luka Prelevic came on at the break and proved to be a key figure in his sides second half fortunes.

He was involved in the build-up of an early chance for Rizk, but the winger couldn’t grab his chance at a second goal, instead he fired into the outstretched legs of a Road defender.

Silky midfielder Prelevic again fashioned a yard of space, opting again to lay off for a teammate, this time Paulo Retre was unable to hit the target, spraying a first time drive just wide from outside of the box.

Archibald had yet another chance to extend the lead from the corner, but this time the defender was stopped by a sublime fingertip save from Brisbane custodian Tomislav Bilic.

 

But there was nothing the keeper could do in the 71st minute as Dekker added a second with a world-class finish.

The Northcote product showed guile to win the ball in midfield before showcasing his blistering pace through the centre of the ground, all to be capped off by a perfect bottom corner finish to make it three.

With time ticking down, Brisbane ensured there would be a nervy end to the game as Brady grabbed his brace in the 88th minute, catching the City defence napping as he strolled through one-on-one with Redmayne, before slotting past the stopper comfortably.

City did hang on for an important win however, despite the nervy showing.

***

Melbourne City 3 (Rizk 6’ Dekker 32’, 71’) defeated Brisbane Roar 2 (Brady 14’, 88’) at La Trobe’s Lower Playing Fields

Melbourne City: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 4. Ross ARCHIBALD (c), 9. Wade DEKKER, 7. Hernan ESPINDOLA, 3. Tom KING, 5. Andrew MULLETT, 12. Phil PETRESKI, 11. Anthony RIZK, 14. Jonatan GERMANO, 8. Paulo RETRE, 6. Liam MILLER

Substitutes: 20. Marko STEVANJA (GK), 13. Leo ATHANASIOU, 10. Luka PRELEVIC, 15. Stefan ZINNI

Yellow Cards: Retre 18’, Petreski 54’, King 81’

Red Cards: Nil

Brisbane Roar: 21. Tomislav BILIC (GK), 14. Shannon BRADY, 3. Cameron CRESTANI, 20. Nicholas D’Agostino, 13. Mitchell HORE, 18. Lachlan JACKSON, 15. Jordon LAMPARD, 7. Benjamin LIFTIN (c), 4. Sandro PASALIC, 6. Luke PAVLOU, 16. Patrick THEODORE 

Substitutes: 1. Fraser CHALMERS (GK), 19. Shelford DAIS, 12. Logan GRILLO, 11. Samual SIBATUARA

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