Recruits Awer Mabil and Emiliano Marcondes have steered Melbourne City to a 2-1 win over Sydney FC and coach Aurelio Vidmar believes there is more to come.
There is plenty more to come from Awer Mabil and Emiliano Marcondes, says coach Aurelio Vidmar, after Melbourne City’s magical pair delivered a 2-1 comeback win over Sydney FC.
City looked in dire straits when Sydney’s Socceroo Al Hassan Toure put the Sky Blues in front in the 36th minute at AAMI Park.
But new City signing Marcondes came on at halftime and scored a terrific equaliser in the 46th minute, then teed up Mabil to score a wonderful winner 16 minutes later.
“They have a nice connection because they played together and they’re very, very tight,” Vidmar said.
“He’s (Marcondes) still in second gear in my opinion … when he hits his straps he’s going to be a very, very dangerous player.”
At 1-1, Marcondes rode a challenge and cut the ball for Mabil, who found space between five defenders to score his first A-League goal in 11 years and maiden effort for City.
“He’s probably been a little bit frustrated last couple of weeks,” Vidmar said.
“We spoke during the week, I said to him that ‘sometimes when you want something so badly and you want it quickly, generally you don’t get it.’
“So it’s just about staying calm and let it happen naturally and that’s what he did tonight.
“He took the goal really, really well and he’s got a lot more in him as well.”
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Mabil gifted 100 tickets to members of the South Sudanese community, with a bus called the ‘Awer Mobile’ organised to help those fans attend the game.
Sydney earlier scored when Oriola Sunday cut back for Toure, who brilliantly curled a fantastic shot into the top corner.
For the equaliser, Nathaniel Atkinson’s long throw-in was knocked down by Julio Cascante and Marcondes leathered home.
Toure had a goal ruled offside in the 59th minute and Mabil scored minutes later.
“We lost that, I think, for ourselves,” coach Patrick Kisnorbo said.
“Conceding after maybe a minute or two minutes after half-time from a long throw, which is not good enough, we missed the second ball, again it’s scrappy, it’s a goal, it’s not enough.
“We missed some great chances, also final passes. At the end of the day we lost that.
“… Times like this or moments like this will hurt, but it’s for us to get better.”
Atkinson pulled off an incredible athletic goal line clearance in the 79th minute to seal City’s first win.
City were without goalkeeper Macklin Freke (groin), who will miss around six weeks.
City (1-1-1) host Western Sydney next Saturday while Sydney (1-1-1) face Central Coast on Friday.
