Shayon Harrison’s dynamite dribbling has helped Melbourne City to end their A-League season on a high, with a 5-0 win over Central Coast.
But, the belting might cost City as they aim to reach a first grand final in the club’s history.
Warren Joyce’s side ended their Mariners hoodoo on Friday night at AAMI Park, overcoming the wooden spooners for the first time this season in emphatic fashion.
Harrison scored a classy brace to bookend Riley McGree’s volley and Dario Vidosic’s tap-in.
Ramy Najjarine netted a rocket for his first A-League goal, putting Alen Stajcic’s sorry outfit to bed.
The win takes City equal on points with fifth-placed Wellington, who travel to play premiers Perth on Sunday.
That result at HBF Park will determine the ultimate make-up of the finals.
Should the Glory beat an anticipated under-strength Phoenix by two goals, City will head to Adelaide for their elimination final instead of staying home for a derby with Melbourne Victory.
Given City are on a 12-game unbeaten streak at AAMI Park, haven’t lost to Victory this season and captain Scott Jamieson has labelled Victory as their preferred finals opponents, their 5-0 win might well be bittersweet.
Joyce said slowing up never entered his mind.
“I certainly said to the players before, we wanted to win convincingly, by as many goals as you possibly can,” he said.
“You can’t be selective on who you play (in finals).”
At least City will enter the finals with a head of steam up courtesy of their big win.
Joyce rested a string of key players – including marquees Jamie Maclaren, Ritchie de Laet and Eugene Galekovic – keeping the playoffs in mind.
Harrison transformed a staid affair on 34 minutes with his fancy footwork.
The Tottenham Hotspur loanee jinked past Matt Millar, Jacob Melling and Jem Karacan before toe-poking past Jack Clisby off the far post.
The delightful effort laid a base for City to go on a spree.
McGree leathered a close-range volley from Jamieson’s curling cross before the break.
After it, Luke Brattan set up Lachie Wales, who slid a low cross for Vidosic to get in on the act.
Harrison reappeared to score a second, latching onto Wales’ through ball, completing a 20-minute four-goal rout.
They weren’t finished, with Najjarine netting a breakaway effort in injury time to equal City’s biggest A-League win.
Joyce also threw on Idrus Abdulahi late in the match, making the 16-year-old the youngest man to represent the club.
Central Coast’s rancid effort ensures the Mariners go through the season without a clean sheet, becoming just the third team in 42 Australian seasons to do so.
Stajcic said the result came at the end of a long season for his battling side.
“The first goal opened the floodgates a little bit and heads dropped … it’s understandable but not acceptable,” he said.
con
Guest
There is a difference what the club calls itself and what some fans want too chant its a free country ,do you have a problem with it, is there a law that's says don't chant, I would say they r free to do as they please as long its not blasphemy or foul language, I am an old hooligan and I used to chant that as well but I would not do that anymore ,why well because the club has chosen to move away from it and since I love and respect the club I will follow their wishes. As for the one that chant old labels well that's there choice ,but when it comes to support for S M I think they got it, because for your information there are 600,00 soccer loving people from that heritage now mixed and intermarried with others that have allegiance and the tribal factor to S M which makes for a damn side better support than what Melbourne city are getting in spite of all there money and publicity ,so a club with the love and hate factor and history on its side makes for more interesting and exciting football than drab melb city [heart ] HEY,plus is there a difference from the stupid chant coming out of the shed at perth glory its annoying and the same for years now ,but you know what each too their own !!
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
I saw a video of South fans chanting before a match. The first chant was HELLAS clap clap clap HELLAS
con
Guest
so Jordan tell me what u know about SM Hellas as that name was dropped around 30 years ago that is double your age ,you keep referring to ethnic and hellas all the time which for a young man makes your views lean to be bias and connotations of racism or is it my imagination you know everything even the past where you were not even there
stu
Guest
Or the a-league replicates the standard of the NYL. Not wishing to go round in circles with this, the standard of play this season has not been good, and I respectfully view that as a glass half full comment.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Nah, they’re in a parallel universe waiting for the restart of the NSL - NSL 2.0
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
And you might pick up some SM Hellas fans as well!
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Exactly! Boutique stadium.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Shayon Harrison is underwhelming as a visa player. He’s been give a chance to prove himself to be a cut above the opposition in the A-league but so far he falls short. There were Aussie youngsters last night that you’d pick ahead of Harrison.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
I say relocate them to Lakeside!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
con
Guest
What a pathetic crowd from Melbourne city this team will never succeed it is such a waste of time flogging this dead horse its a shame that the ffa keep getting it wrong stay tuned and watch how bad western united or what ever they call it ,I think they should call it the no news team ,for a team that will be starting up very soon not much is going on, between them and Melbourne city The FFA have done a ,massive deservice to the Melbourne fans thanks FFA
Fadida
Roar Rookie
I thought I read last week that Stajcic had fixed the Ccm? Stu, are you there? :)
Fadida
Roar Rookie
The best in the A-league? He's decent but for someone who's at a big EPL team he doesn't stand out
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
I think it indicates that development standards are improved, greatly, and they’ll get better as club academies develop
Josh H
Roar Rookie
Central Coast will soon be running out of drawing boards to go back to
stu
Guest
With so many young players not only getting a gig in the first team, but in some cases also excelling, me thinks that is a concern for the a-league as it could easily indicate that the standard of the league is indeed falling.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Harrison is the best in the A-league, but because he doesn't have an Australian agent you see our dodgy media ignoring him. The obvious connection between agents and journos in Australia is a disgrace. Stanjic by starting Hilarej he commited hari kari on his coaching career.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Great to see City give a few of their youngsters game time. After seeing them, and a lot of Roar's this season plus a scattering across most clubs, anyone who fears for football's future in Australia needs not worry.