Evergreen Nigerian striker Peter Utaka looms as the largest menace to Melbourne City’s hopes of kicking off its AFC Champions League marketing campaign with a win at AAMI Park on Wednesday evening.
Despite being 39, Utaka has scored 11 targets for Japanese second division membership Ventforet Kofu this season.
It’s a goalscoring report that has City on excessive alert towards the second-tier Kofu, who certified for the Champions League by profitable Japan’s Emperor’s Cup final season.
City coach Rado Vidosic stated Utaka was amongst a handful of “fantastic” Kofu gamers that his aspect must nullify.
“They can hurt you at any moment of the game,” Vidosic stated.
“It’s going to be a tough game. It’s going to be a great challenge.”
City goalkeeper Jamie Young promised his aspect would take “nothing for granted”.
“We’re going to have to be at our best … against quality opposition,” Young stated.
“You want to be competing against the very best opposition. For me, it’s all very positive.”
Kofu at present sit in seventh spot on the J2 ladder, and have travelled to Melbourne after a 1-1 draw with Tokyo Verdy final Friday evening.
City warmed up for the conflict with a 2-1 Australia Cup quarter-final win over NPL South Australia aspect Metro Stars in Adelaide final Thursday.
Captain Jamie Maclaren, who didn’t journey to Adelaide, is anticipated to function on Wednesday.
However, his fellow attacker Mathew Leckie continues to be sidelined after struggling a knee damage whereas in Socceroos camp within the United States lower than two weeks in the past.
It’s uncertain Leckie shall be match for the beginning of the A-League season, which begins on October 20.
However, whereas Leckie will return through the 2023-24 marketing campaign, one other of City’s forwards, Andrew Nabbout, shall be unavailable for your entire season because of an Achilles damage.
With Nabbout sidelined, City final week signed Brazilian winger Leo Natel as an injury-replacement participant on a one-year mortgage deal.
Source: www.news.com.au
