Premiers Melbourne City will look to book a spot in the A-League Grand Final for the second time in as many seasons when facing off with A-League newcomers Macarthur FC in the Semi Finals on Sunday, June 20.
Originally scheduled to take place at AAMI Park, the Semi Final clash was moved to Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in NSW, amid ongoing COVID-19 restrictions in Melbourne.
The Semi Final clash offers City the chance to make consecutive appearances in A-League Grand Final after losing the 2019/20 decider 1-0 to Sydney FC. Under the guidance of head coach Patrick Kisnorbo, City bounced back this season to clinch the club’s first piece of silverware: the Premiers Plate.
City finished top of the table by two points after confirming a first-place finish in Matchweek 22, proceeding to finish the campaign on a thee-game winless run (D1,L2). The Bulls ended their regular season in similarly subdued fashion, losing 3-0 to Wellington Phoenix at home – but a shock 2-0 Elimination Final win over Central Coast Mariners one week later proved end-of-season form can mean little when assessing how a side will fare in the Finals Series.
Macarthur boss Ante Milicic is sweating on the fitness of star duo Matt Derbyshire and Markel Susaeta, who were both hampered by hamstring injuries in the Elimination Final win. It’s a similar situation for Kisnorbo with both Rostyn Griffiths and Andrew Nabbout coming into the Semi Finals under an injury cloud.
The Semi Final bout is the third meeting between the two teams since Macarthur joined the A-League ahead of the 2020/21 season. City romped to a 3-0 win early in the campaign before a 1-1 draw unfolded at Campbelltown Stadium in Matchweek 18.
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Match details
Melbourne City v Macarthur FC
Sunday, June 20 2021
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Kick-off: 4.05pm AEST
Broadcast: FOX Sports 505
Stream: MyFootball Live App, LIVE and FREE on Kayo Freebies!
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Ins and Outs
Melbourne City squad: 1.Tom GLOVER (gk), 2.Scott GALLOWAY, 3.Scott JAMIESON (c), 4.Nuno REIS, 7.Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 8.Aiden O’NEILL, 10.Florin BERENGUER-BOHRER, 11.Craig NOONE, 13.Nathaniel ATKINSON, 14.Naoki TSUBAKI, 15.Andrew NABBOUT, 16.Taras GOMULKA, 17.Stefan COLAKOVSKI, 19.Ben GARUCCIO, 20.Adrian LUNA, 23.Marco TILIO, 33.Matthew SUTTON (gk) 35.Raphael BORGES RODRIGUES, 36.Kerrin STOKES, 39.Anthony LESIOTIS.
In: 11.Craig NOONE (returns from injury), 16.Taras GOMULKA (promoted), 36.Kerrin STOKES (promoted).
Out: 43.Alec MILLS (not selected).
Unavailable: 9.Jamie MACLAREN (national team duty/quarantine), 18.Connor METCALFE (national team duty/quarantine), 22.Curtis GOOD (national team duty/quarantine).
Macarthur FC squad: 1.Adam FEDERICI (gk), 2.Jake MCGING, 3.Antony GOLEC, 4.Benat ETXEBARRIA, 5.Mark MILLIGAN (c), 7.Ivan FRANJIC, 11.Tommy OAR, 10.Loic PUYO, 15.Aleksandar SUSNJAR, 16.Nick SUMAN (gk), 17. Kyle CIMENTI, 19.Michael RUHS, 21.Jake HOLLMAN, 22.Liam ROSE, 23.Walter SCOTT, 24.Charles M’MOMBWA, 27.Matt DERBYSHIRE, 29.Antonis MARTIS, 31.Lachlan ROSE, 33.Markel SUSAETA
**2-4 to omitted**
Ins: 10.Loic PUYO (return from suspension), 17. Kyle CIMENTI (promoted), 23.Walter SCOTT (promoted), 31. Lachlan ROSE (promoted)
Outs: 12. James MEREDITH (Suspended 1 match), 14. Moudi NAJJAR (ineligible)
Unavailable: 6.Aleksandar JOVANOVIC (calf – 1-2 weeks), 8.Denis GENREAU (National Team Selection)
