Melbourne City’s Isuzu UTE A-League Championship defence began with points shared in a 1-1 draw with Western Sydney Wanderers at CommBank Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Star Wanderers signing Kosta Barbarouses scored his first league goal in Red & Black in the 11th minute but the Champions struck back just 117 seconds later through Young Socceroos forward Max Caputo – and that’s how the score remained until full-time in Wanderland.
REDS REVIVAL: Adelaide see off Sydney FC in pulsating season opener
ROARING START: 10-man Brisbane end opening day hoodoo with valiant win over Macarthur
New Wanderers Barbarouses, Steven Ugarkovic and Angus Thurgate impressed for the hosts in Round 1 while City unleashed off-season imports Elbasan Rashani and Takeshi Kanamori from the start of the 1-1 draw.
The result ensured City extended a six-year unbeaten streak away to Western Sydney; the Wanderers last beat City in a home fixture in March, 2019 and have never beaten City in a “home” fixture at CommBank Stadium.
The Wanderers beat City at CommBank Stadium 1-0 in January 2024, but as the “away” team in Unite Round.
City will now turn attention to a home clash with Perth Glory in Round 2 while the Wanderers head across the ditch to face reigning Premiers Auckland FC in a continuation of a tough starting schedule for Alen Stajcic’s side.
For stats, highlights, key moments and more, head to the match centre.
Match Highlights
Key moments
Barbarouses opens the scoring for the Wanderers
Caputo answers back to earn City a point
What they said
Alen Stajcic: Champions and Premiers in Round 1 and 2? ‘It’s a good yardstick for us’
Fresh off facing the reigning Champions Melbourne CIty in Round 1, it’s straight off to New Zealand for a Round 2 clash with Premiers Auckland FC for Western Sydney wanderers and head coach Alen Stajcic, who is relishing the tough start to the 2025-26 campaign.
Hear everything Stajcic had to say following Saturday’s 1-1 draw below.
Aurelio Vidmar: ‘Smaller details’ the focus for Young Socceroo and City star
Melbourne City head coach Aurelio Vidmar says there’s “no expectations” on Saturday’s goalscorer and Young Socceroo Max Caputo who, at 20 years of age, has been burdened with the starting number nine role for the Champions this season.
Caputo missed the bulk of the 2024-25 campaign after a pre-season leg break but hit top form in the Finals Series as City clinched the Championship title; a goal in Round 1 to rescue his side a point has once again put the young forward in the spotlight but Vidmar says both he and his coaching staff are focussing on improving the little things in Caputo’s game, rather than heaping pressure on the young striker to perform at a consistent level.
Hear everything Vidmar had to say following Saturday’s 1-1 draw below.
The weekend so far
Adelaide United 2-1 Sydney FC
MATCH REPORT: Adelaide see off Sydney FC in pulsating season opener
Brisbane Roar 1-0 Macarthur Bulls
MATCH REPORT: 10-man Brisbane end opening day hoodoo with valiant win over Macarthur
