BREAKING: Melbourne City has pulled off a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory against Buriram United in the Asian Champions League at AAMI Park today, marking their first points in the tournament. The dramatic win positions City back in the race for the knockout stages, just in time as the competition heats up.
In a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats, Buriram’s Serbian midfielder Goran Causic sent shockwaves through the stadium by scoring in the 72nd minute, putting the Thai side ahead. However, City rallied under the watchful eyes of Socceroos coach Tony Popovic, with captain Aziz Behich assisting Elsaban Rashani to equalize in the 84th minute. Just when it seemed City would settle for a draw, young striker Max Caputo netted the dramatic winner in the 97th minute.
This victory is particularly significant as it marks City’s first win in Asia since defeating the same opponents 2-0 in October 2023. With this crucial win, City now sits in seventh place with three points, just ahead of Buriram on goal difference, after two initial losses in the tournament.
With five matches remaining, the stakes are high for City as they aim to qualify for the round of 16, where eight out of twelve teams in the eastern division will advance. The pressure is mounting, and today’s win has reignited their hopes.
Earlier in the match, Buriram had a close call in the 29th minute when Peter Zulj missed a shot wide. Just before the end of the first half, Zulj sent in a cross for Causic, who scored, but the goal was disallowed for offside. City goalkeeper Patrick Beach was kept busy, making a key save early in the second half to deny Zulj.
In a concerning incident, City’s Harry Shillington suffered a head injury in the 54th minute and had to be substituted due to concussion. Along with him, Samuel Souprayen also left the field injured, raising concerns for the team’s depth ahead of their upcoming matches.
The match turned when Buriram capitalized on a corner kick, with Supachai Chaided bicycle-kicking the ball to Zulj, whose shot was saved but deflected into the path of Causic for the opening goal. City struggled to respond until Behich made a crucial play, setting up Rashani for the equalizer. The crowd erupted as Caputo sealed the victory with a late header, thrilling the home fans.
Looking ahead, Melbourne City will return to A-League action against Perth Glory on Saturday before resuming their ACL campaign away against Japanese club Machida Zelvia on November 4, 2023, where they will face Socceroos striker Mitch Duke.
This comeback not only boosts City’s morale but also keeps their hopes alive in a tightly contested tournament. Fans will be eager to see how the team builds on this momentum in the upcoming fixtures.
