FORMER CHELSEA WINGER and Ireland star Damien Duff lined out for his Melbourne City debut earlier against Sydney in what was the team’s first competitive match.
The Ballyboden man began the FFA Cup round of 32 match in his traditional wide left role in front of a crowd of 2,800.
After 23 minutes it was Sydney who took the lead when Corey Gameiro beat Melbourne goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne to the ball on the left wing and slotted into an empty net.
Sydney were on top of the game and perhaps unlucky not to go into the break further ahead with Duff struggling to find the pace.
The winger, who was such an integral part of the Irish set-up for so many years, came close to scoring early in the second half but his effort from the edge of the box flew narrowly wide of the post.
He was taken off shortly afterwards but will have been pleased with his days work. Melbourne don’t get their league campaign off to a start until 10 October.
Minutes after his withdrawal Melbourne netted an equaliser courtesy of a Nick Kalmar header.
The game is now in extra-time and can be watched live here: