Melbourne City defender Curtis Good has chalked up his match-changing goal-line clearance against Western Sydney Wanderers as simple good fortune.
The City defender’s heroic stop to deny Wanderers’ Simon Cox a near-certain goal in the second-half proved one of the defining moments as the sides settled for a 1-1 draw at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
With City fighting back from a goal down in the first half but unable to mark their dominance show on the scoreboard, Cox nearly secured his side the points as he beared down on an empty goal in the 69th minute.
However, the recovering Good slide in from nowhere to ensure his side salvaged a point from the encounter.
SATURDAY REPORT: City miss chance to gain ground on Sydney with Wanderers draw
SATURDAY REPORT: No separating Sydney and Perth in goalless arm wrestle
Speaking to Fox Sports, Good acknowledged the post-match praise for his efforts but also acknowledged that as a defender he was more concerned with his error that led to the opportunity.
“I was quite lucky in the end, to be honest,” Good explained.
“It was my mistake at the start that caused it. I was quite lucky he didn’t slide in and it gave me the opportunity to get back.
He added: ““It was more just panic. As soon as you make the mistake your heart starts racing.
“At first I thought there was an opportunity but I suppose you just keep on going and get back and do what you can.
“Luckily [Harrison Delbridge] was on the line as well so with him tracking back it gave us the opportunity to clear it.”
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6141580906001
Despite conceding the opening goal to Tate Russell, City earlier failed to capitalise on a largely dominant first-half display – with their leveler prior to the half-hour coming from the penalty spot through Jamie Maclaren.
The hosts also failed to put away further opportunities in the second stanza and, with Sydney FC also drawing earlier in the day, Good conceded his team’s biggest missed opportunity was pulling back ground on the league-leaders.
“Definitely it was an opportunity missed,” he said.
“I thought first half we did really well even though we were a bit sloppy on the ball. We had our chances.
“Second half we tried to do the same but credit to them they came at trying to press us and still going forward – they really came at us in that second half there.
“But, in hindsight, you look at it as an opportunity lost.”
SUNDAY PREVIEW: Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne Victory
SUNDAY PREVIEW: Adelaide United v Newcastle Jets
The sentiment was echoed by City midfielder Josh Brillante as he pondered how his side replicated last rounds second-half fade against Perth Glory that only saw them narrowly escape with three points.
“I thought we did well in the first half. We had the momentum
“We just slowed down in the second half and we can’t be doing that. We need to be keeping control of the game
He added: “On the back of last week we came out really slow [in the second half] and on the back foot. [We tried] to come out on the front foot and get control of the game and on the ball.”
“But we didn’t do is as well as we would’ve liked to. But there were some good patches there and we just move on to next week.”
City face an increasingly difficult task of chasing down Sydney in the final six rounds of the campaign – with the Sky Blues holding a ten point lead atop the table with a game in hand.
Round 24
Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne City
Friday, 20 March
Central Coast Stadium
Kick off: 7.30pm AEDT
