Western United has made it three wins in a row against Melbourne City, with Steven Lustica’s powerful second-half strike earning the Green and Black a 1-0 win.
Team News
Western United made just one change from the defeat against Wellington last time out, with Nikolai Topor-Stanley coming in to play his 350th game in the A-League Men.
The milestone man took his place at the heart of defence alongside Leo Lacroix, while former Melbourne City players Ben Garuccio and Lachie Wales both earned starts.
First Half
Alessandro Diamanti had the first big chance of the match with a sixth minute volley from close range after Garuccio had swung a cross into the area.
Garuccio was involved again when he was played down the left-wing by Topor-Stanley, and Wales nearly turned the ball into the back of the net but for another sound stop from Tom Glover.
Melbourne City settled into the game and had a couple of chances of their own in the opening quarter of the game as they began to control more of the possession.
Neither side really managed to create any clear cut chances for the remainder of the first half, but Jamie Young was called upon to make a sharp save after Scott Jamieson’s long-range strike was deflected on its way to the goal.
City hit the crossbar from a corner later on in the half, but neither side was able to break the deadlock before the interval.
Second Half
Young was again forced to keep the scores level with an excellent save at his front post, throwing up a strong right hand to deny Florin Berenguer.
A big chance for United around the hour mark sparked a flurry of momentum for the home side. Prijovic took a quick free kick to play Wales down the right, but his shot dragged across the face of goal and Connor Pain couldn’t divert it in at the back post.
Dylan Pierias then came off the bench and made an immediate impact, with two big chances to score, both kept out by Glover in the City goal.
A string of corners kept the pressure on before a VAR review awarded United a penalty for a push in the box.
Diamanti stepped up but Glover continued his heroics, flying to his left to keep out the spot kick, but it was only momentary relief for City.
Another corner fell to Diamanti in the box, whose snap shot then sat up for Steven Lustica to thump into the bottom right corner for his second goal in as many matches.
City piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser, but United’s defence repelled their attacks with some excellent last-ditch efforts.
Diamanti and Wales came close to adding a second for United, but it wasn’t needed as the side held on for an excellent victory.
