Melbourne City have dominated the Western Sydney Wanderers at AAMI Park, running out 3-0 winners despite a second half red card.
Marcus Younis had a night to remember, assisting Andreas Kuen for the opener, scoring one of his own, assisting Elbasan Rashani for the final goal and then getting sent off late in the match.
The Wanderers made their customary start with intent, forcing Isuzu UTE A-League debutant James Nieuwenhuizen to make a strong save low to his right.
City took the lead after 22 minutes when Kuen punished the Wanderers defenders for giving him too much room to turn and shoot on the edge of the box, controlling Younis’s cutback before placing his shot through traffic and past Wanderers keeper Lawrence Thomas.
The one goal lead became two when Younis’s hopeful long shot took a deflection off of Anthony Pantazopoulos to wrong foot Thomas and bounce over the line.
Rashani scored his first goal for Melbourne City to get their second half off to a ripping start, getting on the end of Younis’s deep cross from the right.
After scoring one goal and assisting the other two, Younis’s night would come to an early end, being sent off for a second yellow card when he was judged to have clipped Alex Gersbach’s heel with a raised boot in the 68th minute.
The game rather petered out after this, with limited chances ensuring the scoreline stayed at 3-0.
City turn their attention to a match against the Central Coast Mariners on Tuesday night, while Western Sydney will be gearing up for the final Sydney Derby of the season on Saturday.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Melbourne City goal: Kuen 23′
Melbourne City goal: Younis 33′
Melbourne City goal: Elbasan Rashani 49′
Melbourne City red card: Younis 68′
