By Lachlan Mitchell
Melbourne City was in action to play BG Pathum United once again for the return-fixture in Bangkok.
City’s first encounter with the Thai heavy-weights saw both sides share the points, after Andrew Nabbout scored City’s first goal in the Asian Champions League.
Coach Patrick Kisnorbo made a raft of changes since City’s last clash, with the Jeonnam Dragons which ended in a 1-1 draw on Monday morning.
Marco Tilio made his return to the squad after his break due to suspension; his return resulted in Japanese international Tsubasa Endow missing out on the starting 11.
Veteran defender Scott Galloway also made his return to the squad after overcoming a hamstring strain.
The game had it all to play for, with automatic qualification to the knock-out stages still on the table.
Both sides started cautiously, putting emphasis on not overcommitting and risking being caught on the counter-attack.
Pathum had the first opportunity of the match through Ikhsan Fandi. The striker linking up with a ball that was played over the City defence.
A well-timed block and judgement by Melbourne Keeper Thomas Glover kept City from going behind early.
Fandi was once again threating just before half-time, when he fired a ball from the top of the box goal-bound.
Rostyn Griffiths was required to put his body on the line to save the day on the stroke of the half-time whistle.
City had one of their best shots on goal through defender and captain Scott Jamieson; the skipper found himself in unfamiliar territory at the top of the box, before firing in a low-bullet to the bottom corner.
The low-ball was just in reach of the keepers’ fingertips, who scurried the ball out of danger.
The men out of Casey had one final chance to go ahead through the lethal combination of Marco Tilio and Jamie Maclaren.
Tilio’s wizardry was on show flicking a picture-perfect ball over the last-line of Pathum defenders into the path of Maclaren.
Maclaren was quickly run down by the Thai sides keeper who was good enough to clear the danger.
The match ended in a highly entertaining nil-all draw and the result see’s City sit in a very cautious second place in group G.
City must hope other results in group G as well as in other group go their way, if they are to qualify. Only the three highest second placed sides from the west and east division progressing to the next round.
Melbourne next face United City on Sunday morning in a must win clash.
