Perth Glory set a club record and took another step towards securing a top-four berth with a 4-0 thumping of A-League strugglers Gold Coast on Monday night.
Goals to Glory trio Steven McGarry, Liam Miller and Travis Dodd sealed the result for Perth, while a late own goal to Adama Traore only served to heighten the pain of Gold Coast, who remain anchored at the foot of the table.
In contrast, Perth’s eighth unbeaten game on the trot – a club record – lifted Glory back to within two points of second-placed Wellington and one point of third-placed Brisbane.
And perhaps even more importantly, the gap between fourth-placed Perth and fifth-placed Heart is now a comfortable four points, putting the Glory firmly in the box seat to secure a home final.
Such was the one-sided nature of the match, Perth could have easily put eight goals past a hapless Gold Coast in front of 7681 fans.
An unmarked McGarry capitalised on a glancing Steve Pantelidis header to score the opener in the 18th minute, but a second goal proved elusive for the remainder of the half as the home side spurned numerous opportunities.
Star striker Shane Smeltz, normally deadly in front of goal, was uncharacteristically wayward, clattering one attempt into the upright before fluffing two other chances with only the goalkeeper to beat.
In contrast to Perth’s glut of chances, Gold Coast had to wait more than half an hour for their first real sight on goal, only for defender Ante Rozic to direct his free header well high of the target.
Perth were far more clinical in the second half, Miller doubling the lead in the 53rd minute after pouncing on a Dodd cross that Gold Coast failed to clear.
And Dodd made sure of the result in the 67th minute when he headed home Mile Sterjovski’s pin-point corner.
Gold Coast’s most clinical moment came in the 84th minute, when a diving Traore sent a bullet header into the back of the net.
Unfortunately for the defender it was his own net, giving the Glory their 11th goal from the past three matches.
“It’s obviously not a happy day for me,” Gold Coast coach Miron Bleiberg said.
“It’s hurt our pride as a club, hurt me as a coach and hurt the players. It will be a very unpleasant flight now. Hopefully we fall asleep and forget about it.
“I’ve never been here and lost 4-0.
“It was one of those days where you go to work and the boss screams at you, and then your car doesn’t start, then your wife screams at you again and then the dog is sick and you have to take him to the vet. That was my day today.”
Glory coach Ian Ferguson praised his team’s performance.
“The first half, I thought we could have been easily two or three up, or even more,” Ferguson said.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Mathew Leckie played a pivotal part in Melbourne City claiming an 8-nil win; playing a role in several of his team's goals.
The loser of the Sydney Derby will be under immense pressure entering the final three matches of the season.
A good performance from Michael Ruhs, scoring twice to beat Macarthur and doubling his season goal tally in the process.
Sydney moved into fourth with their point but Glory's finals hopes are now officially extinguished.
Anthony Caceres is a player with immense talent and has a fantastic work rate, broke the deadlock against the Mariners in the 74th minute.
The Wanderers coach admits he has stuff going on in his personal life, and insists he has full support of playing group.
