Eugene’s welcome ‘home’ silenced

The veteran gloveman faced his former team for the first time during this pre-season as Melbourne City was this time the visitor in a clash against Adelaide behind closed doors.

After Adelaide beat City 2-1 in Melbourne earlier this month, the Reds lost 2-0 at home nine days before new coach Marco Kurz leads his side for the first time for points away to Wellington Phoenix on October 8.

City’s Stefan Mauk scored in the second half after Nick Fitzgerald jagged a goal in the 42nd minute as the Reds played at Hindmarsh for the first time this pre-season.

It was Kurz’s first loss before the German claimed facing an undermanned Phoenix will be difficult despite the side losing skipper Andrew Durante, Tom Doyle and Michael McGlinchey to a Kiwi international friendly against Japan away on October 6.

“I think it’s hard game to start the season, it’s a big flight, a long distance but also with the three players aren’t ready to play for Wellington it’s not positive news,’’ Kurz said.

“It’s better when we play against a full team but with the situation we will see, it’s important to start well and to make our job with a good attitude and winning mentality.

“That’s the most important thing when you play at just 80 per cent mentally you’ll lose every game.

“That’s a challenge to get 100 per cent every week.

“The winning mentality, it’s not possible to win every game, but players must think before every game that they will win.”

City started Friday’s clash with Galekovic behind Reds championship-winning Italian stopper Iacopo La Rocca.

Two other Reds title-winners Mauk and Bruce Kamau started for City while ex-Red Osama Malik who was traded in January 2016 was in the first XI.

Adelaide’s latest signing, German under 21 European 2009 championship winner Daniel Adlung, 29, got his first preseason run with Adelaide after landing in SA from Germany less than a fortnight ago.

The ex-TSV 1860 midfielder had a sharp opening.