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AFC Champions League Elite
Beach made a series of crucial saves to keep the J1 League side at bay, with Andrew Nabbout then netting a stoppage time winner as Melbourne clinched a second successive victory after having opened their campaign with two defeats.
#ACLElite | FC Machida Zelvia (JPN) 1-2 Melbourne City FC (AUS)
“I’m so proud of the team,” said Beach. “We dug deep and we believed, we’re a very believing group. We’ve put in a strong performance, but it’s only as strong as the boys in front of me.
“I’m just grateful to be able to do my part. It’s what I work on in training every week, to make these saves and help the team. I’m just glad that when I was called upon tonight, I could deliver for the team. Everyone put in a great shift.”
“I’m just grateful to be able to do my part. It’s what I work on in training every week, to make these saves and help the team. I’m just glad that when I was called upon tonight, I could deliver for the team. Everyone put in a great shift.”
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Melbourne City head coach Aurelio Vidmar praised his team’s response to a difficult start to the game.
“We had a very difficult time in the first half.. Machida played a very strong, physical game, and it took us a little while to settle,” said Vidmar. “Obviously, the early goal after one minute helped us, and we managed to get some control but not for very long. We had to deal with a lot of direct balls, which is something we don’t face too often in our competition."
“We had a very difficult time in the first half.. Machida played a very strong, physical game, and it took us a little while to settle,” said Vidmar. “Obviously, the early goal after one minute helped us, and we managed to get some control but not for very long. We had to deal with a lot of direct balls, which is something we don’t face too often in our competition."
“In the second half, the big difference for us was Takeshi (Kanamori) coming on – he made a huge impact. We also controlled the game better and didn’t turn the ball over as much as we did in the first half, when we were under pressure. It was a much better second half for us overall.
“I’m very proud of the players because they showed great commitment and desperation, especially in the way we defended. The attitude and mentality were at a very high level tonight.”
“I’m very proud of the players because they showed great commitment and desperation, especially in the way we defended. The attitude and mentality were at a very high level tonight.”
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For Machida, it was a frustrating night as missed opportunities proved costly for Go Kuroda’s side.
“It was a very frustrating defeat. Our finishing remains a major issue. We had about 20 shots, but only one went in. Of course, improving that quality isn’t easy since it depends on individual skill, but we need to find new ways to break through and work harder in training,” said Kuroda.
“It was a very frustrating defeat. Our finishing remains a major issue. We had about 20 shots, but only one went in. Of course, improving that quality isn’t easy since it depends on individual skill, but we need to find new ways to break through and work harder in training,” said Kuroda.
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“The own goal and the late concession were very painful. Those are the kind of goals that are hard to fix just through training. That’s why we need to look deeper into our mentality and mindset as a team.
“We wanted the three points at home and should have achieved that, but it ended up as a very disappointing result."
Machida will look to make up for lost ground when they take on Korea Republic’s Gangwon FC on November 25, with Melbourne City entertaining Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim.
“We wanted the three points at home and should have achieved that, but it ended up as a very disappointing result."
Machida will look to make up for lost ground when they take on Korea Republic’s Gangwon FC on November 25, with Melbourne City entertaining Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim.
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