Thursday , 2 July 2026

Western United FC vs Melbourne City FC, A League 2023-24 REGULAR SEASON

A League · 2023-24
Western United FC
1 – 2
Full Time
Melbourne City FC
Sun 7 Jan 2024 · 06:00 UTC AAMI Park HT 45' · FT 45'
Steven Lustica 50' Y
Angus Thurgate 82' Y

Overview

Match Preview

Western United FC vs Melbourne City FC — A League at AAMI Park.

Match Details

  • Referee Kearney Robinson
  • Referee Ben Abraham
7 games this season 🟨 1.0/game ⚽ 6.7 goals/game 🟥 1 total

Standings

# Team P Pts
1 Newcastle United Jets FC 26 48
2 Adelaide United FC 26 43
3 Auckland FC 26 42
4 Melbourne Victory FC 26 40
5 Sydney FC 26 39
6 Melbourne City FC 26 38
7 Macarthur FC 26 34
8 Wellington Phoenix FC 26 33
9 Central Coast Mariners FC 26 32
10 Perth Glory FC 26 31
11 Brisbane Roar FC 26 26
12 Western Sydney Wanderers FC 26 21

Head-to-Head

3
1
11
Western United FC 15 games · Avg 2.9 goals Melbourne City FC
Last 5 meetings
2024-01-07 Western United FC 1–2 Melbourne City FC 2023-10-21 Melbourne City FC 1–2 Western United FC 2023-04-22 Western United FC 1–3 Melbourne City FC 2023-01-07 Melbourne City FC 4–0 Western United FC 2022-10-07 Melbourne City FC 2–1 Western United FC

Recent Form

Western United FC
DateOpponentH/A ScoreResult
07 Jan Melbourne City FC H 1–2 L
30 Dec Newcastle United Jets FC A 0–2 L
23 Dec Sydney FC A 2–4 L
15 Dec Brisbane Roar FC H 2–1 W
08 Dec Central Coast Mariners FC A 0–4 L
02 Dec Wellington Phoenix FC H 0–1 L
Melbourne City FC
DateOpponentH/A ScoreResult
07 Jan Western United FC A 2–1 W
28 Dec Brisbane Roar FC H 8–1 W
23 Dec Melbourne Victory FC H 0–0 D
17 Dec Central Coast Mariners FC H 3–3 D
08 Dec Perth Glory FC A 2–1 W
03 Dec Newcastle United Jets FC A 2–0 W

Key Stats

60% Both Teams to Score
H2H (15 games)
67% Over 2.5 Goals
H2H history
38% Clean Sheets
Melbourne City FC this season

Goal Timing (This Season)

Melbourne City FC
0-15
–/–
16-30
4/–
31-45
1/1
46-60
1/–
61-75
3/–
76+
2/4
■ Scored ■ Conceded

Top Scorers (This Season)

Melbourne City FC
Max Caputo 8 G 1 A
Marcus Younis 7 G 3 A
Medin Memeti 5 G 1 A

Events

Match Events

  • 0' Temperatures are rising at AAMI Park as Western United FC face off against Melbourne City FC in what promises to be a fascinating contest.
  • 5' The 35-year-old Tomoki Imai has been sensational this season — 0 goals and 0 assists is a remarkable return.
  • 10' The travelling Melbourne City FC supporters hardly appreciate their team being pressed down to the backline.
  • 13' The Australia Michael Ruhs breaks the deadlock on 13 minutes. 1-0!
  • 18' Western United FC seems to be on a short break. The game is mainly concentrated in the center. It’s high time they got back to action. Otherwise, it looks like a goalless game.
  • 23' The tempo has dropped considerably in the last few minutes. Mike van Houten will be considering his options from the bench.
  • 28' Neither side is committing men forward. This has all the hallmarks of a tense, tactical contest.
  • 33' A tactical chess match is unfolding here. The question is which manager blinks first.
  • 38' Western United FC currently sit in the Array table. A result here could be decisive in the race for the top positions.
  • 43' Supporters expect more eagerness from Leo Natel, as he is very good at scoring at AAMI Park with 5 goals in the last 3 games.
  • 48' Morocco international Hamza Sakhi has been a key figure this campaign — 0 goals and 0 assists in the Array this season.
  • 50' Steven Lustica has been a danger all night but risks an early exit having now seen a card on 50.
  • 52' Against the run of play, Hamza Sakhi has scored! This game has turned on its head.
  • 57' While players are taking a pause, let’s have a look at their stats. The teams met 0 times this season with winning -% of all matches.
  • 58' Marin Jakolis makes way for Benjamin Mazzeo at the 58 minute mark. A tactical switch from Melbourne City FC.
  • 63' Both teams are passing the ball around with high level of urgency. Melbourne City FC needs to do something about it to get closer to the goal.
  • 68' We miss some good tackles and strikes. Is there anyone on the field to put the game back to action?
  • 70' Another substitution for Western United FC to replace Steven Lustica by Rhys Bozinovski on 70 minute.
  • 74' Hamza Sakhi makes way for Terry Antonis at the 74 minute mark. A tactical switch from Melbourne City FC.
  • 79' The referee has had an easy afternoon — neither side has been overly physical in the tackle.
  • 82' Angus Thurgate has been a danger all night but risks an early exit having now seen a card on 82.
  • 83' Terry Antonis makes no mistake. The score reads 1-2 and Melbourne City FC are in front.
  • 88' Matchday of the Array and both teams know exactly what is at stake tonight.
  • 90' Ramy Najjarine is ready to make an impact after coming on for Noah Botic at the 90 minute mark.
  • What a match! Full time at {STADIUM} — Western United FC 1-2 Melbourne City FC.

Lineups

Western United FC Lineups

Starting XI

Bench

Coach John Aloisi

Melbourne City FC Lineups

Starting XI

Bench

Coach Mike van Houten

H2H

H2H Top Scorers

PlayerGoals
Jamie MacLaren 16
Besart Berisha 4
Leo Lacroix 3
Andrew Nabbout 3
Rene Krhin 2
Lachlan Wales 2
Michael Ruhs 1
Leo Lacroix 1

Head to Head

2024-01-07 Western United FC 1–2 Melbourne City FC 2023-10-21 Melbourne City FC 1–2 Western United FC 2023-04-22 Western United FC 1–3 Melbourne City FC 2023-01-07 Melbourne City FC 4–0 Western United FC 2022-10-07 Melbourne City FC 2–1 Western United FC

Western United FC Form

2024-01-07 Western United FC 1–2 Melbourne City FC L 2023-12-30 Newcastle United Jets FC 2–0 Western United FC L 2023-12-23 Sydney FC 4–2 Western United FC L 2023-12-15 Western United FC 2–1 Brisbane Roar FC W 2023-12-08 Central Coast Mariners FC 4–0 Western United FC L 2023-12-02 Western United FC 0–1 Wellington Phoenix FC L

Melbourne City FC Form

2024-01-07 Western United FC 1–2 Melbourne City FC W 2023-12-28 Melbourne City FC 8–1 Brisbane Roar FC W 2023-12-23 Melbourne City FC 0–0 Melbourne Victory FC D 2023-12-17 Melbourne City FC 3–3 Central Coast Mariners FC D 2023-12-08 Perth Glory FC 1–2 Melbourne City FC W 2023-12-03 Newcastle United Jets FC 0–2 Melbourne City FC W

Predictions

Prediction accuracy
3 / 4
1.14 Western United FC xG
Expected Goals
Dixon-Coles · Bivariate Poisson · Neg. Binomial · Elo
1.56 Melbourne City FC xG
I would bet for: Markets are evenly balanced — no clear value pick.

Match Result

✓ Correct
Western United FC27% Draw27% Melbourne City FC46%
Actual: Melbourne City FC win

Both Teams to Score

✓ Correct
Yes54% 0% No46%
Avg goals/match: 2.7
Actual: Yes — both scored

Over / Under Goals

✓ O/U 2.5
Line Over Under
± 0.5 91%
9%
± 1.5 75%
25%
± 2.5 50%
50%
± 3.5 29%
71%
± 4.5 14%
86%

Double Chance

Western United FC or Draw
54%
Draw or Melbourne City FC
73%
Western United FC or Melbourne City FC
73%

Half-Time Result

✗ Wrong
Western United FC21% Draw46% Melbourne City FC33%
Actual: Western United FC win at HT

Correct Score

✓ In top 12
1 – 1
12.8%
0 – 1
9.5%
1 – 2
Actual
0 – 0
8.6%
0 – 2
8%
1 – 0
6.6%
2 – 1
6.6%
2 – 2
5.2%
1 – 3
4.7%
2 – 0
4.3%
0 – 3
4.1%
2 – 3
2.8%

Asian Handicap — Western United FC

Handicap Western United FC covers Push Melbourne City FC covers
-2.5 3% — 97%
-2 3% 7% 89%
-1.5 11% — 89%
-1 11% 16% 73%
-0.5 27% — 73%
+0.5 54% — 46%
+1 54% 22% 24%
+1.5 76% — 24%
+2 76% 14% 10%
+2.5 90% — 10%

Clean Sheet

Western United FC keeps clean sheet
22% ✓
Melbourne City FC keeps clean sheet
33% ✓

Predictions are statistical estimates based on season form, H2H history, and a Poisson model. Not financial advice.