The 19-year-old Socceroo was introduced in the 67th minute and netted three minutes later with practically his first touch.

“I think Riley has done fantastically well," Joyce said.

"I think he’s possibly one of our best players.

"Through circumstances, Jamieson’s injury and McGree’s couple of trips away, you work on things and then are forced to change.

“I think he’s been one of the best players during our pre-season.

"He was told that he’d be coming on tonight and I think his attitude was first-class.

"People forget how young he is."

City's first goal came from Ritchie de Laet after they fortunately won a controversial penalty.

Referee Kurt Ams initially awarded a free-kick after minor Raul Baena contact on Bruno Fornaroli, but replays showed the incident occurred inside the box.

“I thought it was a foul, from 50 yards away it’s hard to tell whether it’s inside of the box or outside of the box," Joyce said.

"I just thought it was a foul at the time. I thought he tripped him at the time."

Joyce hailed his side's display, amid late withdrawals of captain Scott Jamieson and Dario Vidosic, who he said would likely be available for Round Two.

"I thought we showed a tremendous amount of resilience," he said.

"The week got disrupted really with late injuries to players and illnesses to players so La Rocca coming in after having not played since last February, tremendous, not even a reserves game, nothing. That showed tremendous character.

"Obviously moving Delbridge to left-back, after playing centre-half for majority of the season and obviously new Kearyn [Baccus] coming in after having not worked with the players very much."