The Grand Final rematch headlined the Wednesday-night A-Leagues action, as Sydney FC travelled to AAMI Park to face Melbourne City for the first time since last season’s title decider, and fell to a 4-0 defeat.
Following on from City’s clash with the Sky Blues was a reunion between Melbourne Victory head coach Tony Popovic and his former team Perth Glory at HBF Park, from which the Victory emerged as 1-0 winners.
KEEPUP followed along LIVE to bring you all the goals, highlights, up to date scores and biggest talking points from two Isuzu UTE A-League fixtures on Wednesday night.
THE FIXTURES
- Melbourne City 4-0 Sydney FC
MATCH REPORT: Leckie shines for City in 4-0 Sky Blues rout
- Perth Glory 0-1 Melbourne Victory
MATCH REPORT: Margiotta strikes Victory past Perth
THE REACTION
‘I’ve been visualising it for a while’: Bos delighted with maiden City strike
It was a goal six years in the making for City academy product Jordan Bos.
In his ninth Isuzu UTE A-League appearance, Bos popped up in the right place at the right time to meet a ball bouncing invitingly out of his side’s attacking box after a corner routine.
The opportunity to strike was on – but Bos still had plenty to do. He put his head down and let a left-footed strike rip, burying his first league goal into the bottom-right corner.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Bos said. “I’ve come from way back in the youth (setup) just waiting for my chance. I finally got it – and I took it.
“I’ve been visualising it for a while – but nothing like that!”
Bos Joined the City academy in 2016, playing two seasons in the former Y-League before signing his first senior contract in 2020/21.
His Isuzu UTE A-League debut came this season – with his first goal coming in some style against the Sky Blues on Wednesday night.
In-form Leckie ‘super excited’ for first taste of Melbourne Derby
Mathew Leckie is a player in form, having launched into the Golden Boot race with blistering brace notched against Sydney FC on Wednesday night.
The Melbourne City winger took his goal tally to nine for the season with two goals against the Sky Blues, as City cruised to a 4-0 victory in the Grand final rematch at AAMI Park.
The comfortable result followed City’s 6-0 hammering of Wellington Phoenix on Saturday as the Champions extended their unbeaten run to 11 games (eight wins, three draws).
Leckie went without a goal in his first seven games in City colours, but has nine goals in his last 10 games as he looks to contend with City striker Jamie Maclaren for the Golden Boot.
Up next on the agenda for City is the Melbourne Derby on Saturday, April 9. It’s set to be Leckie’s first taste of one of the Isuzu UTE A-League’s great rivalries, after missing the first two instalments through injury.
Leckie has the opportunity to continue closing the gap to Jamie Maclaren (14 goals) who leads the Golden Boot race, with City targeting three points against Melbourne Victory to strengthen their Premiership chances.
“I’m super excited,” Leckie told Paramount+ post-match. “I’ve unfortunately missed the two (Melbourne Derbies) previous. It’s a huge occasion, and we’re in a great spot. They’ve got games to catch up on, which if they get good results will be in a good spot as well.
“We just want to continue what we’re doing, 10 goals in our last two games and (two) clean sheets, we’re full of confidence.”
Melbourne Derby the chance for Victory to begin late tilt for Premiers Plate
With 15 points between Melbourne City (first) and Melbourne Victory (third) on the Isuzu UTE A-League table, it might seem like an unassailable gap – but with four games in hand on the league leaders, Tony Popovic’s side can still attack top spot by the end of the season should they emerge victorious from the Melbourne Derby on Saturday night.
Victory notched back-to-back league wins with a 1-0 triumph over Perth Glory at HBF Park on Wednesday night, following on from City’s win over Sydney FC earlier in the evening.
MATCH REPORT: Margiotta strikes Victory past Perth
Victory host the reigning Champions on Saturday night in City’s last game before travelling to Thailand for six AFC Asian Champions League group stage fixtures between April 15-30.
Defeat City on Saturday night, and Victory will move to within 12 points of their crosstown rivals on the league table – with those four games in hand still intact.
By the time City return to Australia Victory will have played a further five games. It’s an opportunity to surge into Premiers Plate contention Victory will be all to eager to seize – and it all begins this Saturday in the Melbourne Derby.
FULL-TIME: PERTH GLORY 0-1 MELBOURNE VICTORY
74′: CHANCE! Tyler Vecchio fires inches wide for Peth (0-1)
Glory head coach Ruben Zadkovich called on youth to deliver off his bench – and it was almost 19-year-old Tyler Vecchio providing the equaliser with a low strike across goal from the right-hand side of the box which just evaded the bottom-left corner.
57′: GOAL! Margiotta hurts Glory on the counter (0-1)
It was a dramatic minute at HBF Park, with Perth pleading for a penalty down one end before a swift Victory counter attack saw the visitors take the lead through Margiotta down the other.
Pacifique Niyongabire went down in the box under a challenge from Jason Geria, but the penalty shouts were waved away. Victory surged forward through Jake Brimmer, who cut off the left flank to find Margiotta to finish.
HALF-TIME: GLORY 0-0 VICTORY
43′: CHANCE! Clisby fires wide (0-0)
Perth’s most promising move of the night came in the 43rd minute, with the play moving off the right flank toward the left where Giordano Colli found Jack Clisby streaming into the box.
The pass was a deft one, set into the path of Clisby to strike first-time – but his left-footed effort went just wide of the mark.
29′: CHANCE! Margiotta rattles the post (0-0)
Francesco Margiotta was the next Victory forward to hit the post, with a scorching free-kick leaving Liam Reddy no chance of a save.
But for the second time in quick succession, a glorious Victory chance just misses the mark, with the left-hand goalpost struck once more.
25′: CHANCE! Rojas off the woodwork (0-0)
That was the closest either side have gone to scoring in the first half, with Marco Rojas striking toward the bottom-left corner on the turn, hitting the woodwork instead of the back of the net.
8′: CHANCE! Lachman’s “incredible” solo run almost ends in a goal (0-0)
A brilliant dribbling run down the left flank came from the unlikeliest of sources for Perth, with central defender Darryl Lachman showing a turn of pace to get in the box, playing a one-two with Trent Ostler and shaping to shoot, with a loose touch inviting Victory keeper Ivan Kelava in to gather at his feet.
1′: KICK-OFF: (0-0)
We’re underway at HBF Park!
TEAM NEWS
FULL-TIME: MELBOURNE CITY 4-0 SYDNEY FC
A second-half Mathew Leckie brace helped Melbourne City cruise to a 4-0 win over Sydney FC in the Grand Final rematch.
Teenage City defender Jordan Bos scored his maiden Isuzu UTE A-League goal, with Jamie Maclaren bagging his 14th goal of the season in a comprehensive City display.
72′: GOAL! Leckie strikes again (4-0)
It’s 4-0 to City at AAMI Park!
“This team is starting to run rampant,” sais Paramount+ co-commentator Daniel McBreen as Leckie got his second of the night, juggling the ball off his thigh before lashing a strike from outside the box into the bottom-right corner.
70′: GOAL! Maclaren extends Golden Boot lead (3-0)
Jamie Maclaren’s 14th goal of the season came off the back of a magnificent through pass from Marco Tilio, who left the City spearhead the simple task of firing past Heward-Belle in a one-on-one.
55′: GOAL! Leckie makes it two (2-0)
Andrew Nabbout’s cross to Mathew Leckie resulted in a headed goal to City’s number seven which was initially ruled out by the linesman, who thought the ball had crossed the byline before Nabbout got his cross away.
But a VAR check correctly reversed the decision, handing Leckie his eighth goal of the campaign.
HALF-TIME: CITY 1-0 SKY BLUES
A debut Bos strike is the difference at the break as City lead the Grand Final rematch by one goal to nil.
38′: OFF THE POST! Donachie hits the woodwork (1-0)
The Sky Blues went close to levellingt he scores from a corner of their own, with James Donachie rising at the back post to aim his header on goal. The ball hit the post and fell back into his path, with the City defence swarming to block his resulting strike out for another corner.
26′: GOAL! Bos strikes from range to put City ahead (1-0)
It’s a maiden Isuzu UTE A-League strike for City left-back Jordan Bos – and what a goal it was!
A City corner was cleared by the Sky Blues, but only into the path of Bos who struck low and hard toward the bottom-right corner. The ball skimmed through bodies, leaving Sydney keeper Thomas Heward-Belle unsighted and with no chance of keeping the strike out.
15′: A tight contest at AAMI Park (0-0)
A Rostyn Griffiths header from a Florin Berenguer free-kick floated over the crossbar as Melbourne City continued to show greater attacking impetus early doors.
1′: KICK-OFF (0-0)
We’re underway in the Grand Final rematch at AAMI Park!
