After Melbourne City clinched their second Isuzu UTE A-League Championship with a narrow 1-0 victory over rivals Melbourne Victory, let’s delve into five fascinating aspects you might have overlooked from this thrilling face-off.
Move Over Claude Makelele, It’s Now the ‘Mat Leckie Role’
Aurelio Vidmar, Melbourne City’s manager, faced a significant dilemma ahead of the Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final, primarily revolving around Socceroos forward Mathew Leckie.
With a season marred by injuries limiting him to just 14 matches and a mere five starts, Leckie had his playing time carefully monitored in the run-up to the Grand Final.
After the semi-final against Western United, Leckie expressed confidence in his fitness for the final if Vidmar chose to start him.
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Surprisingly, Leckie was deployed as the defensive anchor at the heart of City’s midfield, a role he didn’t foresee taking on.
“I believe the primary reason for this change is that in our previous encounters, Victory has recognised our pressing style and tries to draw us in before playing through balls to their strikers,” Leckie said regarding his unexpected position after the match.
“Machach has troubled us previously and Viddy (Aurelio Vidmar) instructed me to play in the six position to control him and physically match up against him.”
He continued: “This role suited me well, considering my season has been plagued by injuries, allowing for less intensive running.”
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Although more recognised for his offensive skillset, Leckie executed a remarkable block to prevent Victory midfielder Zinedine Machach from equalising in the 19th minute.
Despite showing no signs of fatigue after an intensely active first half, Leckie put himself at risk again soon after the resumption.
While contesting the ball with Machach, he suffered a kick to the face, leading to a brief stoppage as medical staff attended to the two cuts on his nose.
The outcome? The star player of Melbourne City played on with one of the most noticeable bandages in Isuzu UTE A-League history.
Not only did the Socceroos star complete the full 97 minutes at AAMI Park, but the 34-year-old clinched the Joe Marston Medal and his first Championship as City hoisted their second Isuzu UTE A-League trophy.
Aurelio Vidmar Breaks Winless Streak for Sweetest Triumph
Melbourne City’s head coach, Aurelio Vidmar, entered Saturday’s electrifying Melbourne Derby seeking his first managerial victory against Melbourne Victory. After 97 intense minutes, he achieved just that.
Having suffered a loss against Victory in the 2009 Grand Final while managing Adelaide United, Vidmar experienced continuous disappointments in his quest for a win against City’s long-standing rivals.
During a season that could have easily yielded little for Melbourne City, given the significant injury issues that saw SEVEN key players sidelined, Vidmar placed his faith in the club’s younger talent, who ultimately delivered the goods.
“I’m incredibly proud of these lads; there was never a hint of complaints,” Vidmar shared with Paramount+ post-match.
“When we lost some crucial players during the season, I remember sitting down with Sammy Souprayen at the start of pre-season, and he asked me, ‘Where are all the players?’ I responded, ‘They’ll be here soon.’
“I thought, ‘Crikey, we’re in trouble here!’ But we’ve navigated through it.”
“Our pre-season was top-notch. It not only laid the foundation for the seniors but also enabled all our younger players to grasp what we needed to do and how we wanted to play.”
Finishing the regular season in second place behind Auckland FC, City has secured a spot in next season’s AFC Champions League Elite, entering as champions.
Tight Defence Proves Vital for City
“Defence wins championships” – a mantra often echoed in high-level sport, and for good reason.
Despite finishing second on the ladder, Vidmar’s side showcased the best defensive statistics throughout the regular season, and their skills shone right through to the Grand Final.
Throughout a season filled with injuries, particularly among his attackers, Vidmar’s defensive unit consistently stepped up and provided support for younger players thrust into challenging situations.
When Yonatan Cohen netted in the 10th minute, Vidmar and his coaching staff likely sighed with relief, given the implications of the score for both City and Victory.
Prior to the Grand Final, City had gone 19 matches unbeaten after taking the lead, winning 14 and drawing five.
Now, it’s 20 matches and 15 wins.
Record-Breaking Night as Fans Flock to AAMI Park
The new attendance record for a sporting event at AAMI Park has been officially set.
As the match neared the 80-minute mark during this thrilling contest, the PA announcer confirmed that the 2025 Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final had attracted a record crowd of 29,902 spectators.
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This surpassed the previous record of 29,871 set during a 2016 Rugby Union match between Australia and England.
The prior football attendance record at the stadium was from the Grand Final encounter between Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC the year before.
Emerging Teenage Talents Showcase Future Potential
With your team leading 1-0 in the closing minutes of a Grand Final and possession deep in enemy territory, one would usually expect the player controlling the ball to be heading for the corner to wind down the clock.
However, that was not the case for Melbourne City’s rising star, Medin Memeti.
Under pressure from Melbourne Victory defender Josh Rawlins, the 17-year-old executed an impressive backheel flick that left Rawlins bewildered and set him up perfectly for a run towards the Victory goal.
While the youngster’s cross was ultimately cleared by the Victory defence, this moment showcased the sheer confidence radiating from a young talent tipped for greatness at Melbourne City.
Having netted his first professional goal for City during a 5-0 victory over Perth Glory in Round Four, Memeti finished the season with 10 starts from 20 appearances, accumulating five goals and one assist.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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