Western United put in a positive pre-season display on Saturday afternoon, defeating Melbourne City 2-0 in a behind-closed-doors affair at Ironbark Fields.
Hiroshi Ibusuki scored his first goal in his new colours with a deft header in the first half before Oliver Lavale ensured the result in the final 20 minutes of play.
There were again extensive opportunities for numerous members of the Western United squad as John Aloisi’s side continues to prepare for the 2024/25 Isuzu UTE A-League Men season.
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Aloisi’s starting XI again contained a mixture of experience and youth with Ibusuki and Jake Najdovski pairing up front.
Matthew Grimaldi started from the left with Rhys Bozinovski in central midfield after his contract extension was confirmed this week.
First Half
Melbourne City started slightly the brighter of the two sides but there was no undue stress placed on United’s goal in the opening exchanges, with a comfortable low save from a James Jeggo effort all that was required from Tom Heward-Belle.
There was a significant wind and sideways rain that made the conditions difficult for both sides, but United gradually settled into the affair and began to wrestle control.
An insatiable press from Aloisi’s side repeatedly had City on the back foot with a series of turnovers high up the pitch.
Riku Danzaki and Matthew Grimaldi forced good saves from Patrick Beach as the opener appeared inevitable.
And so it was, this time with a turnover deeper in play as Ben Garuccio broke down the left-hand side, put the ball on a six pence for Ibusuki who powered his downward header into the corner.
The press was on again soon after as Sebastian Pasquali fired an effort over the bar after Jake Najdovski’s shot was blocked before Danzaki nearly turned a superb piece of quick thinking into a second goal.
Anticipating a City pass in their own box, Danzaki made his interception a first-time shot but flashed his effort into the side netting.
United remained on the front foot and Najdovski nearly had an opening when he closed down Beach in possession, while Ibusuki wasn’t far away from a second when he nodded Grimaldi’s corner wide.
The conditions were hardly conducive to slick possession play but United did its best to provide that, building up from the back on numerous occasions and carrying the lead into the break.
Second Half
It was the visitors again the started the stronger after the restart with Steven Ugarkovic firing over the bar from close range.
City had a succession of corners with the wind behind them, one that was via an outstanding defensive header from Najdovski.
As was the case in the first time, United worked its way into the ascendancy as Grimaldi began to see more of the ball as an outlet on the wing before Aloisi shuffled his pack on the hour mark.
An entirely new set of outfield players entered the fray with many of the Western United Academy graduates getting an opportunity to impress.
Dylan Leonard and Luka Coveny were assured at the back as the young side repeatedly combined well in possession to bring the ball out of defence.
There was plenty of energy in attack and it didn’t take long after the changes for a goal to come in fine fashion.
Luke Vickery pinched possession of the ball, allowing Michael Ruhs to run into space before attempting to find Vickery again on the right wing.
Instead, that pass was deflected into Lavale’s path and still with plenty to do, the young attacker controlled and finished coolly through Beach’s legs.
United kept the positive play until the final whistle, somehow being denied a third goal in the final 10 minutes.
Ruhs, Vickery and Jordan Lauton all had goal-bound efforts but a combination of goalkeeping heroics from Beach and last-ditch defending ensured it was crisis averted for City.
That did nothing to dampen United’s spirits as Heward-Belle maintained his clean sheet and the Green and Black completed a positive result, one the side will look to build on going into the remainder of the pre-season.
