There were new coaches, new faces, some returning faces and a host of academy graduates as Melbourne City and Adelaide United met in a behind-closed-doors friendly.
Isuzu UTE A-League champions City and Adelaide played out a 1-1 draw in Melbourne on Tuesday as both sides ramped up their preparations for the 2025-26 season.
Andreas Kuen’s second-half strike cancelled out Luka Jovanovic’s 25th-minute opener.
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The match against Adelaide was City’s first minutes against A-Leagues opposition this pre-season after their Australia Cup Round of 32 exit to APIA Leichhardt, with the reigning champions set to kick off their 2025-26 AFC Champions League Elite campaign against Japanese giants Sanfrecce Hiroshima on September 16.
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Aurelio Vidmar’s City were without a handful of first-team regulars due to either international duty or minor injuries, though their new signings received game time against the Reds. Japanese star and new number 10 Takeshi Kanamori started for the 2024-25 victors, while Australian youngster Liam Bonetig came off the bench after his arrival from Celtic.
A host of academy products and graduates received minutes too – from Beckham Baker, Ryan Kalms and Zane Schreiber to Mathew Baker, Luke Becvinovski, Angus Mackintosh, Ben Mazzeo, Peter Antoniou, Lachie Charles and Lawrence Wong.
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As for Adelaide, it is a new era for the South Australian club. Brazilian youth guru Airton Andrioli is at the helm after replacing club legend Carl Veart while Socceroo and Reds great Craig Goodwin is back wearing the captain’s armband.
Goodwin started for Adelaide in his first appearance since 2023, having enjoyed a stint in Saudi Arabia before returning this off-season. The club’s all-time leading goalscorer overcame foot surgery which had sidelined him during pre-season and the Australia Cup.
“Feeling really good,” Goodwin said afterwards. “Obviously, nice to get minutes in the legs.
“Been training now for a good three weeks fully, feeling fit, feeling strong and nice to get some match minutes.”
Meanwhile, Dutch import and goalkeeper Joshua Smits was in the line-up for his first appearance as a Reds player and he provided a commanding presence in the penalty area.
The upcoming 2025-26 campaign shapes a big one for Jovanovic, and one of opportunity for the talented striker following Archie Goodwin’s departure to MLS. The duo vied for the starting number nine role last season and Goodwin seized the position as he went on to share the Golden Boot with former Sydney FC sensation Adrian Segecic.
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But with Archie Goodwin gone, Jovanovic has the chance to lead the line at Coopers Stadium, where he has scored 14 goals across all competitions since debuting in 2022-23.
The 20-year-old was on the scoresheet against City, latching onto a ball from Jonny Yull.
“We hope (he can) consolidate this place in the squad,” said Andrioli via Adelaide’s media. “Continue to work hard. He’s got a World Cup maybe coming for him as well if he gets the opportunity to go to that squad.
“I think he’s motivated at the moment. He’s been training well, so hoping he continues in that path.”
Kai Trewin nearly equalised before half-time after seeing his thunderous effort cannon off the crossbar in a half that saw German Ferreyra came off second best in an aerial collision with Austin Ayoubi.
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In the second half, Andrioli handed minutes to a number of academy prospects and scholars, with the line-up including Max Vartuli, Fabian Talladira, Feyzo Kasumovic, Sotiri Phillis, Malual Nichola, Vinko Stanisic, Ryan White, Julian Kwaaitaal, Ben Folami, Harry Crawford, and Amlani Tatu.
Phillis, 19, was handed the captain’s armband. The second half also saw Bailey O’Neil make his return to senior football following a back injury. The 19-year-old is only one of three Indigenous players in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
With 16 minutes remaining, City equalised following a sharp attacking move that was finished by Kuen.
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“We’re very pleased with the game. We haven’t played a match in the last three and a half weeks, so it’s been a long time without that intensity you can’t always replicate in training,” Andrioli said.
“The opportunity to face A-League opposition was excellent.
“I was especially pleased with the first half, when our main group was on the pitch. There are plenty of positive signs in the areas we’ve been working on, and it’s good to see some of those things starting to come together.
“But most importantly, it was about getting this game under our belt.”
Melbourne City XI: Dakota Ochsenham (GK), Harry Shillington, German Ferreyra, Samuel Souprayen, Kai Trewin, Aziz Behic (C), Emin Durakovic, Andreas Kuen, Mathew Leckie, Takeshi Kanamori, Max Caputo.
Adelaide United XI: Joshua Smits (GK), Dylan Pierias, Bart Vriends, Panagiotis Kikianis, Ryan Kitto, Jonny Yull, Jay Barnett, Luke Duzel, Craig Goodwin (C), Austin Ayoubi, Luka Jovanovic.
Featured image: Melbourne City
