An emotion charged high intensity game was the only way to describe Melbourne City’s semi-final clash with Adelaide United.
Both teams were looking to take the advantage ahead of the second leg in Melbourne on Sunday afternoon.
Adelaide United took up the early pressure on home-soil, Hiroshi Ibusuki had an early chance firing his long-range bullet wide of the goal and City keeper Thomas Glover.
A City lapse in defence led to Ibusuki finding space, which wouldn’t have pleased City coach Patrick Kisnorbo.
City had their best shot of the first half shortly after with a precise ball from Mathew Leckie, placed into the path of Jamie McLaren who could only fire his shot into the keeper’s grasp.
McLaren had another opportunity to put Casey’s Melbourne City ahead but squandered an opportunity in front of goal, slipping and miss-hitting the ball well over the woodwork.
City’s opportunities continued to keep United’s keeper Joe Gauci busy.
A well struck long range shot from Conor Metcalfe being denied by the fingertips of Gauci, who was able to deflect the ball to safety.
Melbourne would have been ruing the missed opportunities going into the half-time break.
Adelaide started the second in similar fashion, continuing to find good space and work into and around the 18-yard box.
A claim of handball against Melbourne City’s international Carl Jenkinson inside the box, had fans yelling penalty, but after a short VAR review the claim was quickly waved off by the video referee.
Adelaide’s captain Craig Goodwin had a chance to break the ledger with header in the 70th minute, but was unable to fire his shot with enough venom to trouble City keeper Thomas Glover.
City’s best chance of the second half came in the 74th minute through Andrew Nabbout, who was inches away from putting his side 1-0 up.
Nabbout’s shot hit the post and rebounded out, denying City from taking the lead.
Leckie had one final chance to break the deadlock, but a leaping Gauci denied him.
The last 10-minutes got heated, with a flurry of yellow-cards and frustration getting the better of both sides.
City make the trip to AAMI Park on Sunday for the second leg at a 0-0 aggregate.
The other all-Melbourne semi-final saw Melbourne Victory hold a one goal advantage ahead of its second leg with Western United.
Jake Brimmer saluted in the 74th minute to give his side the edge in the second leg.
