Shane Smeltz could be the only man standing between Brisbane Roar and the A-League title. The Glory marksman is a game-winning player – something the Central Coast Mariners currently lack.
Smeltz proved in Perth last night precisely why he’s the A-League’s all-time leading goal scorer.
His first goal came after he battled for a high ball, lost his marker and then casually stroked home on the half-volley after the ball came back into the box at pace.
His second – a looping header that deceived Heart goalkeeper Clint Bolton but which ultimately crossed the line – was trademark Smeltz.
And his third arrived after the lurking Kiwi international sprung the offside trap to charge on to Liam Miller’s through ball and blast home his seventh goal in just two games.
It was predatory goal poaching of the purest kind from the sort of player the Central Coast Mariners must dearly wish they possessed.
I say that because, with all due respect, Bernie Ibini butchered a couple of glorious chances for the Mariners against Brisbane Roar on Saturday afternoon.
For all his undoubted promise, the lanky striker lacked the killer touch in front of goal the Mariners desperately needed to put the Roar under early pressure.
Instead it was Brisbane who completely dominated and the defending champions really should have won by more than 2-0.
Midfielder Erik Paartalu got lucky when his hit-and-hope method of finishing came up trumps as Brisbane’s vital second arrowed into the bottom corner.
They should already have put daylight between them long before then, as the Roar made a mockery of finishing second to the Mariners during the regular season.
The spanner in the works could be Brisbane’s AFC Champions League trip to Ulsan in midweek, although Ulsan coach Kim Ho-Gon has also lamented his team’s own hectic fixture list.
But even Brisbane’s exploits in South Korea shouldn’t be enough to stop them dispatching the Mariners and booking another Grand Final at Suncorp Stadium on April 22.
And with no disrespect intended to Wellington Phoenix fans, the Mariners are likely to run into that man Smeltz and his Glory cohorts in a do-or-die Preliminary final a week earlier.
If that happens, I wouldn’t bet against the Glory brushing aside Central Coast and moving through to their first decider since winning the last ever National Soccer League back in 2003-04.
There’s plenty of football still to play before then, but for arguably the first time this season the Glory have put their hand up as genuine contenders.
How things have changed for Glory owner Tony Sage and much-maligned coach Ian Ferguson, whom many expected to be out of a job midway through the season.
Ferguson has instead signed a contract extension and for all that can be said about Perth’s largely uninspired style of football, his team now stands just two games away from a Grand Final appearance.
That’s more than can be said for Melbourne Victory, who deserve the last word after interim coach Jim Magilton walked away from the club on Sunday.
Supposedly envisaged as the full-time successor to the sacked Mehmet Durakovic, it seems the Victory board re-thought that decision after the ubiquitous Smeltz bagged all four goals in Perth’s 4-2 demolition of Victory last weekend.
Told he was now part of a shortlist of candidates, Magilton has understandably packed his bags and gone home.
Thus Victory are back at square one after a bizarre season of football – searching for a suitable candidate to replace the successful, albeit not especially colourful, Ernie Merrick.
You couldn’t make it up and thankfully for the A-League’s sake we don’t have to.
Because between Smeltz, Magilton, hapless Sydney FC defender Michael Beauchamp and a host of others, there’s plenty to talk about from a pulsating round of A-League finals action.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Notably, they were so happy with the AR, that according to the FW site, he picked up the gig for the second leg of Brisbane-Central Coast.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Hey, I'm an honest sort :D
Clayts
Guest
Agree with you that it didn't really matter in the end, because of Smeltz. But forgive me if I don't take your word for it that it looked the goods. Hehe not the most impartial fan, Nathan of Perth. :)
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Not too worried - FootballWest's NTC is starting to really boost development and there are a number of actually promising players including a great player from the world youth cup. With a multi-year deal, Ferguson gets the peace of mind to bring them through as more than injury cover.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
The shadow from a light tower behind goals was cast an inch inside goals and the best AR in the comp flagged it. And from where I was in the front couple rows behind and to the right it certainly looked the goods. Not that it matters. Heart went down pretty comprehensively.
Roarsome
Guest
I can't see the Roar being held scoreless or the Mariners scoring the 4 goals needed to win should the Roar score. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
McGrime
Guest
Mate it's only half time in the Mariners Vs Roar fixture & your writing the Mariners off @ 0 - 2 you should know better when these 2 sides play each other I'll be there and I'm backing Mariners 2 - 0 at home for an extra time finish.
clayts
Guest
That's a pretty old team in ny opinion
clayts
Guest
Not convinced by the replays at all. unless there is a camera looking across the goal line it is inconclusive
Roarsome
Guest
Matt Mackay is in South Korea..... so are the Roar..... Hmmmm -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Daniel
Guest
For all those saying how old Perth is, here is yesterday's starting line up: Vukovic - Turned 27 last week Heffernan - 31 Van Der Brink - 29 Pantaledis - 29 Risdon - 19 Burns 34 Andrezinho - 27 Miller - 31 Dodd - 32 Smeltz - 30 McGarry - 32 Average age: 29. Hardly a youth team but when you consider the average age of the Socceroos at the last world cup and the fact that players often play until 34-35, the team definitely doesnt warrant the criticism it is currently receiving. In so far as the poor performance in the first half yesterday, Fergie has already come out and stated that the team will need to lift next week. As pointed out by King Robbo above, I think a poor half every now and then is more than compensated by numerous exciting and high quality performances throughout the season.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Smeltz had 9 goals out of 36, then 13 out of 40.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Football friendly pubs include: Celtic Club (King St), Imperial Hotel (top of Bourke St), Charles Dickens (Collins St). If all fails, head to "The Big House" (aka Crown Casino) - they will definitely have it on one of their screens in the Sports Bar ... just don't get tempted by the other delights of the flesh that may try to divert your attention!
Griffo
Roar Guru
At this rate, Smeltz will overtake Berisha as the leading goalscorer of HAL7 in the grand final ;-)
langou
Roar Guru
Does anyone have any ideas on where in Melbourne I would be able to watch the glory v wellington game? I can not find anywhere due to Coll v Rich and Ade v WB being on at the same time.
King Robbo
Guest
A lot of negative stuff is said about glory and I blame craig foster and les murray, who attack the team every week on twg and yet probably have watched very few of their games of late (also they hate anything scottish). Believe it or not they have improved since christmas, they have exciting players in liam miller, smeltz, dodd and adreazinho. Local product josh risdon has been in superb form, jacob burns is one of the best at winning the ball in midfield, pantelidis has been a rock at the back as well as being cultured and vanderbrink has been one of glorys most consistent players. As nathan said, smeltz has scored 16 goals this season, so only 9 prior to the last two weeks. To call glory a one man show for the whole season is wrong. While yesterdays first half was terrible for the neutral, its not uncommon for cut throat games to be played like that. How exciting were the glory v roar game which ended 3 all or the one where glory went down to 9 men and two goals down and still drew with victory. In terms of young players, last week showed there is a lot of promise with o'neill, makarounous doing well against victory. Note that Babalj and julius davies are perth products as well. So hopefully skillful young WA products will eventually turn out more for Glory, which is in Fergies plans.
Stevo
Guest
Yep, last night had Pim Verbeek and the Socceroos v Germany WC2010 written all over it for Heart - sadly as I sat their numbed by what I saw. From the opening moments we sat back rather than press our opponents as we had done previously. We went into our shell - PG didn't look much better either in the first half. For the good work that JVS has done with Heart I am thankful. But look at the difference between Ange on Saturday night urging his team to take it up to CCM and 'fight' it out and JVS who only got animated when it was toooo late.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
We won plenty when Smeltz wasn't starting, mate, its only in the last couple games that Smeltz exploded. Goal scoring before that was pretty spread out.
davo
Guest
i would love to see perth in the grand final again some time, but not this season. They haven't played well enough to deserve that place and that muppet Ferguson can't get the reward for what is a one man team in Shane Smeltz. Despite their position on the ladder the fans haven't quite come in number befitting that position, becuase the football is quite poor. Clear out Ferguson and Burns and use some young guns and you may have an exciting team that deserves a premiership.
davo
Guest
beat Gold Coast united 2-1