Melbourne City have clinched the Premiers Plate for the second season running after a 2-1 win over Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park on Monday night.
The ‘Nix pushed City all the way, conceding two early goals before pegging one back to make City sweat in the second half.
The three points collected helped Patrick Kisnorbo’s side go back above Melbourne Victory into top spot on the A-League table – and that is where City will remain heading into the finals.
KEEPUP followed along LIVE to bring you all the goals, highlights, up to date scores and biggest talking points from the A-Leagues on Monday night.
REACTION
MATCH REPORT: CITY BEAT PHOENIX TO CLAIM ALM PREMIERSHIP
Kisnorbo: City’s Premiership triumph releases ‘a build-up of emotions’
City boss Patrick Kisnorbo knows as well as anyone that his side’s job is not yet complete in 2021-22.
Sealing the Premiers Plate with a 2-1 win over Wellington on Monday night serves to tick a box heading into the finals series, with the ultimate goal becoming back-to-back Champions.
But at the end of yet another regular season hampered by COVID-19, with all the planning and scheduling issues that came with the unavailability of coaches and players – and not to mention the club’s recent disappointment in Asia – Kisnorbo says his side’s Premiership success will help release the pent-up emotions which built up through a difficult campaign to reset for the finals.
“It’s been a big year, excluding the finals series,” Kisnorbo told the press post-match.
“What we’ve had to deal with – and I’m not saying just us, but a lot of clubs with back-to-back games, you get put in situations you’ve never been put in before because of the COVID situation.
“You go to (the AFC Asian Champions League), you get 12 points and you don’t qualify for the next round which we always wanted to, there’s a lot of emotions that go in there.
He added: “I think it was just a buildup of maybe nine months worth (of emotions), and a satisfaction of some the things we’ve had to encounter this year.
“To get the rewards they got tonight – and there’s still a long way to go, don’t get me wrong – I think it’s a build-up of emotion just to say: ‘You know what? We did something we set out to do’, and now we need to get ourselves clear and go again.”
Post-match scenes from a momentous night in City history
City are now just the second side in A-League Men’s history who have notched back-to-back Premierships, matching a feat Sydney FC have achieved on two occasions (2016-17 and 2017-18).
The post-match scenes showed City’s delight in clinching a third piece of silverware in two campaigns – with the chance to win both the Premiership and Championship two seasons running the next goal on the agenda.
Metcalfe – why second Premiership feels ‘different’ for City
For the second time in as many season, City are A-League Men’s Premiers.
But, they were made to do it the hard way, with the trophy falling into their hands on the very last day of the season.
City midfielder Connor Metcalfe acknowledged the difference in emotions his side’s latest success evoked within him compared to last season’s Premiership triumph.
“(It feels) brilliant,” Metcalfe told Paramount+ after defeating Wellington 2-1 on Monday night.
“Going back to back, I’m so proud of the boys. It’s been along season, it’s been a tough season. We know it’s not finished yet, but to finish the regular season off like that is unreal.
“It was different. We had a couple of games to go last season to win it, and this time it was a must-win.”
City will now enjoy a week’s break while the elimination finals take place, rejoining the action for a two-legged semifinal – which Metcalfe is looking forward to after an important break from play to recharge the batteries.
“To get a week off, to clear the mind and get ready, I’m just so happy,” Metcalfe said.
RECAP: MELBOURNE CITY 2-1 WELLINGTON PHOENIX
70′: CHANCE! Maclaren (2-1)
Off the post again for Maclaren who has been unlucky not to double his total at AAMI Park this evening.
55′: GOAL! Waine (2-1)
Waine takes a lofted pass from Gary Hooper down in the box, takes Rostyn Griffiths wide and buries his shot into the bottom left corner.
“The Premiers Plate race is well and truly alive at AAMI Park!” Exclaimed Paramount+ commentator Ben Homer as play resumed with City nursing a one-goal lead.
46′: SECOND HALF (2-0)
Jamie Maclaren fires just wide of the mark seconds after play resumed in the second half, as City show their intent to wrap up the Premiership with a commanding win.
42′: CHANCES! Maclaren (2-0)
Maclaren hits the post off Marco Tilio’s pass into the box, before thumping the ball into the side netting in the next phase of play as the City star begins to dominate at AAMI Park.
39′: CHANCE! Maclaren (2-0)
Maclaren swivels on the spot outside the box, losing his marker in Nicholas Pennington before lashing a shot on goal, deflected off a Wellington defender on its way out for a corner.
11′: GOAL! Maclaren (2-0)
City strike for the second time in the first 11 minutes to break clear of the ‘Nix at AAMI Park.
Again it was Gomulka causing the threat from a corner, finding Andrew Nabbout at the near post who flicked the ball on for Maclaren to finish.
4′: GOAL! Sutton OG (1-0)
A Sam Sutton own goal puts the home side ahead with just four minutes on the clock.
The goal came from Taras Gomulka’s delivery from a corner, with Sutton’s attempted clearing header at the front post looping over goalkeeper Oli Sail to drop over the goal line.
1′: KICK-OFF (0-0)
Referee Daniel Elder gets the game underway, with Phoenix kicking off proceedings at AAMI Park.
TEAM NEWS
PRE-MATCH
For Melbourne City, the task is simple: defeat Wellington Phoenix tonight, and lift the Premiers Plate.
Taking anything less than three points home from AAMI Park will result in local rivals Melbourne Victory finishing on top of the pile heading into the finals – an outcome City will be desperate to avoid.
Patrick Kisnorbo’s side come up against a Phoenix outfit bound for the finals. Wellington will finish sixth – unless they manage to defeat City by 29 goals or more – meaning an elimination final clash with third-placed Western United is all-but confirmed to take place next Saturday.
The Phoenix will aim to use their clash with City as a finals warm-up as we head toward crunch time in the 2021-22 Isuzu UTE A-League campaign.
