Another AFC Champions League Elite fixture and another win for red-hot Melbourne City, who upstaged Malaysian juggernaut Johor Darul Ta’zim 2-0.
City conquered Malaysia’s most successful club thanks to goals from academy graduates Max Caputo and Medin Memeti as the Isuzu UTE A-League champions jumped up to second in the standings following a third consecutive win.
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It is the first time in the history of the City men’s team that they have celebrated three straight Champions League victories, while they are also the first Australian side to achieve the feat in AFC’s premier club competition since 2016.
WEEKEND PREVIEW: What you need to know for Round 6 of the Isuzu UTE A-League
Provisionally second with Ulsan and Buriram United still to play, Aurelio Vidmar’s men are second behind Japanese giants Vissel Kobe after five games, having started their 2025-26 campaign without a win through two matchdays.
“It’s always important to win and that gives you momentum,” Vidmar told reporters at AAMI Park on Tuesday night.
“We set a target of seven points at the beginning of pre-season. We have nine now. That’s fantastic but that doesn’t mean we stop and put the handbrake up now.
“We have to take every game on its own merits.
“It’s fantastic for the players. It’s fantastic for the club. It’s fantastic for Australian football.
“Lets be honest, you have a look at the budget at this team have, the value of the players, the experience they have. I think probably they’re youngest one who didn’t come is 24 years of age.
“That tells you that sometimes football levels out in certain ways because yes maybe they had a lot more quality than us today but we found a way to fight through that and we got goals at really important moments.
“I think it’s great for football in Australia.”
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Young gun Caputo maintained his fine run of goalscoring form after breaking the deadlock in the third minute on Tuesday night.
He has now scored six goals in his past eight games, but teammate and Socceroo Patrick Beach produced another man-of-the-match performance.
After making his CommBank Socceroos debut against Venezuela, the 22-year-old goalkeeper stood out again to help City take down an Asian powerhouse.
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Vidmar joked: “He was terrible, wasn’t he?”
“We know the quality Patrick has. He is still young in his journey as a goalkeeper but he knows how to make saves. He makes saves at important moments for us. That’s what you need,” he continued.
“We defend very strongly as a group but at some stage the ball is going to get past our final line and that’s why you need a quality goalkeeper. Patrick’s been that for us last season and heh as continued that this season.
“His past couple of performances have been magnificent. That’s helped the team.
“He has absolutely had the right to be selected for the national team and had the opportunity to make his debut. He deserves it.”
