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Five-goal haul no surprise for Jamie Maclaren

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17th April, 2021
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Socceroo Jamie Maclaren’s five-goal haul for Melbourne City in a 7-0 rout of Melbourne Victory wasn’t all that much of a surprise for the striker.

Melbourne City forward Jamie Maclaren always suspected one day he’d have a game like his five-goal festival.

The Socceroo matched Archie Thompson’s record for most goals by one player in a single A-League match as he and his City teammates ran riot against hapless Victory at Melbourne’s AAMI Park on Saturday.

And while Maclaren’s haul is remarkable, it wasn’t wholly unexpected for the 27-year-old.

“I knew ever since I’ve played in the A-League that one team will concede a fair bit of goals from me just purely because I know I create chances and some nights they don’t go in for me,” Maclaren said.

“But tonight they did…”

Maclaren’s amazing night began with a first-half penalty, before he really got going in the second half.

A headed goal from a Marco Tilio cross in the 64th minute made it two, before another penalty completed the sixth hat-trick of his A-League career.

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Maclaren had never managed four in an A-League game until the 84th minute – and just one minute later he matched Thompson’s effort from Victory’s 2007 grand final triumph against Adelaide.

It means the sharpshooter has 19 goals in just 16 games this season, while City are now top of the league, having moved one point clear of Central Coast following the Mariners’ loss to Western United earlier on Saturday.

Maclaren’s focus is very much on achieving team success with City however, having never won a title during his prolific career.

“We’ve just got to carry on this run,” he said.

“When you look at the table now, we’re sitting top after Mariners got beaten.

“We’ll be the hunted now – and that’s the mentality for us it to try and go into training and impress and improve.”

© AAP

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