Melbourne City have made a winning start to their 2021 FFA Cup campaign with a no-fuss 3-0 win over South Melbourne in the Round of 32 on Friday night.
A crowd of 4291 packed Lakeside Stadium for former NSL powerhouse South’s first FFA Cup round of 32 appearance since 2017.
But Connor Metcalfe’s 23rd-minute goal and Scott Galloway’s second-half brace ensured City’s first competitive match since June’s grand final triumph ended in victory.
South defended resolutely but their resistance could only hold out for so long.
In the 23rd minute Galloway slipped through Nathaniel Atkinson, who cut the ball back to Metcalfe to slot a well-worked opening goal
City maintained their dominance throughout the opening half, controlling the bulk of possession, but failed to capitalise on the scoreboard.
South Melbourne, who hadn’t played a competitive match since their NPL season was brought to a premature end by Victoria’s COVID-19 lockdown in July, were lively out of the break and were inches away from equalising in the 53rd minute.
