City survive gallant Roar comeback to win 3-2 at AAMI Park

Melbourne City extended its gap at the top of the A-League table to nine points with a win over Brisbane Roar, staving off a brave fightback by the visiting side to edge a gripping contest 3-2 at AAMI Park.

City forged a two-goal lead early in the first half before going into the break with scores level at 2-2, as a persistent Roar outfit refused to roll over against the league-leaders.

But a brilliant Scott Galloway goal in the second half turned the contest back in City’s favour, as the home side held on to clinch all three points in a five-goal thriller.

Connor Metcalfe opened the scoring in the first half, meeting a Craig Noone through ball in the box to beat Roar ‘keeper Jamie Young with a first-time strike across goal nestled into the bottom-right corner.

Just three minutes later the home side bagged another, as Kai Trewin helped a Scott Jamieson cross into his own net.

Brisbane rallied after going two goals behind, halving the deficit through Joey Champness before a Macaulay Gillesphey header from a Jay O’Shea corner levelled the scores in the 38th minute.

There was nothing to split the two sides for almost half an hour following the break until Galloway scored the decider with 73 minutes on the clock, driving into the box on a solo run, firing a cross off Roar defender Scott Neville before firing home on the rebound, volleying his shot from a tight angle past Young to seal a City win.

The Roar had the chance to jump into second on the A-League table with a win at AAMI Park but are left in seventh spot in defeat, as the fight for positions in the top six intensifies.

Key Moments

City carved out a two-goal advantage with less than 20 minutes on the clock, sparked by an early Metcalfe finish which signalled the home side’s intent to quickly get on top of the battle between two in-form sides.

Noone picked Metcalfe’s run into the box with a through pass which bounced across the deck as it fell into the midfielder’s path.

Metcalfe didn’t break stride as he met the ball to fire a first-time shot off his left peg past Young off the left side of the box into the opposite bottom corner.

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A second City goal was to come just three minutes after the first, with Trewin helping Jamieson’s cross attempt into the back of his own net.

Jamieson got forward to collect a through pass from Metcalfe, and looked to square the ball to find one of two City forwards waiting in the six-yard box to finish.

But Trewin’s block ensured no such finish would be needed from one of Jamieson’s teammates.

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Trailing 2-0, the Roar were down, but not out. Champness offered his side the spark needed to mount a comeback when netting in the 28th minute from a shot from distance, prioritising placement over power to beat City ‘keeper Tom Glover.

Champness cut across the edge of the 18-yard box with the ball, riding the challenge of defender Nuno Reis before tucking his low shot off Glover’s right-hand goalpost and over the line.

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With the deficit cut in two by Champness’ finish, Brisbane set off in pursuit of an equaliser.

That equaliser ultimately came off the precise delivery of O’Shea from a corner, and the aerial presence of defender Gillesphey who ventured forward for the attacking chance.

Three City players jumped to meet the ball but Gillesphey but the Roar man rose above them all, turning his header toward goal and leaving Glover no chance of intervening.

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After seeing four goals fly in throughout the opening 38 minutes, the fans at AAMI Park were made to wait until the 72nd minute to see a fifth – and the home supporters were thankful to see it come from a man in City colours.

Galloway proved the hero on the night for the table-toppers, getting forward on a blistering run before seeing his cross blocked by Roar defender Neville.

The ball deflected back into Galloway’s path, and the right-back set himself to send a left-foot volley from a tight angle past Young and into the back of the net, sending City on the way to collecting all three points.

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