Melbourne City has defeated fierce cross-town rivals 1-0 in the A-League Men Grand Final to claim his second championship.
In the first Melbourne Derby season decision in the A-League Men Competition, winger Yonatan Cohen City handed the lead in the 10th minute for a sold-out crowd in Aami Park.
The crowd of 29,902 was a record for a sporting event at the location.
The surprise decision of the city coach Aurelio Vidmar to play Mathew Leckie in the defensive midfield has paid off, because the Socceroo got the Joe Marston Medal for the best player on the ground.
Joe Marston Medal winner Mathew Leckie was connected in the second half. ((Monkey: James Ross))
Leckie had his nose open by a casual boot of Zinedine Machach in the 49th minute, but played with a huge connection around his face.
The defense of the city was fantastic because it sentenced the victory to a second consecutive big last defeat and their championship dries extended to seven years.
“My teammates are just that strong,” Stadskapitein Aziz Behich told Network.
“You see Leckie give a good example today. He can’t even see from that circumference band.
“But what I am so proud of this team is that everyone has contributed this season.”
Victory’s star player Nishan Velupillay (only) did not succeed in prove his fitness and city after Behich Nootmeggen Josh Rawlins with a beautiful rear wheel to find Andreas Kuen.
The Austrian cut the ball back for Max Caputo, whose shot hit the bar before the Israeli winger Cohen drove home.
The goal of Yonatan Cohen early in the first half was enough to give Melbourne City the victory. ((Getty Images: Robert Cianflone))
In the 20th minute, Leckie blocked the shot of Zinedine Machach desperately Zinedine Machach.
Jack Duncan made a wonderful diving saving to deny Leckie in the 23rd minute before Patrick Beach Machach denied at the other end.
A minute in the second half, Duncan made a great fingertip to prevent Cohen from curling his second goal in the upper corner.
Caputo and Cohen took off both chances to bring it 2-0, while the victory appealed in vain to a handball penalty from the German Ferreyra in the 80th minute.
But the charges of Arthur Diles could not find an equalizer before fans of the city broke out after the last whistle.
MONKEY
#Melbourne #City #beats #CrossTown #Rivals #victory #ALeague #Men #Grand #Final