Newcastle Olympic push Melbourne City all the way in 1-0 Australia Cup loss

City, who fielded six starters from May's A-League grand final-losing side, led the round of 32 contest in the 41st minute when 19-year-old scholarship player Luke Oresti tapped in from close range.

Olympic had scrambled well in defence in the opening 40 minutes but a poor pass at the back gave City the opportunity. Florin Berenguer fired a ball in that keeper Adam Pearce couldn't handle and Oresti was there to finish on debut.

Down 1-0 at the break, Olympic came out firing in the second half and had a great chance in the 50^th minute.

American Malik Thom, Olympic's biggest threat in attack, found space down the left side and crossed for Kent Harrison, whose header was tipped wide by Tom Glover.

Down 5-0 in corners early in the game, Olympic were level at 5-5 just after the close shave.

Glover was diving again to knock an Olympic chance wide in the 58^th minute when Jared Muller's deflected strike looked set to bring the hosts level.

City were close in the 72^nd minute when Max Caputo's touch from point-blank range went over the crossbar under pressure from Pearce.

But Olympic kept coming. Thom threatened in the 77^th minute with a quality run and cross but Jackson Burston slipped at the far post.

Only the woodwork denied Olympic an equaliser in the 82^nd minute when a skimming ball in forced a fumble from Glover which went onto the far post and out.

The home side, to crowd chants of Olympic, pushed everyone forward for a corner deep in stoppage time but City held on.

Olympic made their first round of 32 cup appearance last year when they hosted A-League side Macarthur and lost 3-0 after a COVID-marred preparation.

Coach Joel Griffiths had predicted a better attacking display this time around against elite company and they produced just that, especially in the second stanza.

Pearce, the only Olympic player with A-League experience, had been quick to make saves down low to deny Socceroo Jamie Maclaren in the seventh minute and Berenguer in first-half stoppage time. He had nervous moments when fumbling corners in the 26^th and 66^th minutes but recovered.

Curtis Good was just wide with a header for City in the 15^th minute and Oresti likewise with a shot in the 29^th.

Olympic had some bright moments with the ball in the first half, mainly with Thom as the target down the left side, but they didn't threaten goal.

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