The premiers plate is within sight for Melbourne City as they recorded an impressive 4-1 win over 10-man Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park in an entertaining affair.
Rado Vidosic decided to keep an unchanged starting lineup from the midweek derby fixture, while the Phoenix made two changes from their home loss to the Victory and searching for a result after suffering back-to-back defeats.
The rain didn’t help the pitch recover from Thursday night’s NRL match, as both sets of players found it difficult to adjust to the slippery conditions. In-form striker Oskar Zawada almost capitalised on a one v one opportunity only to spray his shot wide after four minutes of action.
Top goalscorer Jamie Maclaren had a couple of opportunities to open City’s account, having his shot blocked from close range as well as finding the side netting before the 25th-minute mark, as they started to slowly get a grip hold of the match.
Some tidy footwork from Macalren helped him find the corner of the net in the 34th minute, breaking his five-game scoreless drought to give the home side the lead.
Controversy ensued right on the stroke of half-time as Zawada seemed to have been caught by the City defender after a great first touch, but the referee had no interest.
Wellington looked dangerous in the final third but lacked the cutting edge and end product to cause Glover real problems, still very much in the game but trailing 1-0 at the break.
Ufuk Talay couldn’t have asked for a better start after the team talk when Steven Ugarkovic polished off a deadly counter-attack from Zawada’s run on the right flank to convert from a fortunate deflection to equalise four minutes after the restart.
A crazy few minutes followed straight after, as Maclaren added his second by finishing into a relatively open net thanks to an Andrew Nabbout cross to restore their lead on 52 minutes.
Moments later, Callan Elliot showed his defensive qualities when he made an incredible goal-line clearance to deny further damage before Marco Tilio curled home a sensational finish after another Nabbout assist to extend City’s advantage just before the hour mark and really stamp their authority.
Endless waves of City attacks followed until a mistake at the back gave substitute Kosta Barbarouses an opportunity to slot the ball past Glover one v one, only for the shot-stopper to produce a fine save with his extended leg.
That same sequence would find Joshua Laws in a world of pain, raising his boot into Nabbout’s face on the halfway line, resulting in a straight red card as the Phoenix would have a mountain to climb with more than 25 minutes remaining.
The only downside for the hosts was Valon Berisha having to be subbed out of the match after what appeared to be a groin injury after 75 minutes.
More open space allowed City to appease their supporters through more attacking football, which led to an inevitable fourth goal in the 83rd minute when fullback Jordan Bos made a great run out wide to whip a cross in for Tilio to tap home his second of the match.
A 4-1 victory for City puts them seven points clear of Adelaide United with three games remaining with a trip to the Mariners up next, while the Phoenix will be holding their breath as they’re only three points clear of finals and have a crucial match coming up on Sunday at home to the Brisbane Roar.
Garry
Roar Rookie
to clutch a straw or two .. :happy: .. Sydney has shared results with City & has drawn both games with AU
Grem
Roar Rookie
If…. This has been a regular word, used this year, to describe Sydney’s upcoming games - if…. They may make the 6, but they don’t look like grand finalists.
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
Can’t argue with that. Adelaide especially have matched it with City this season - a 3-3 draw and a 4-2 win proving that when they continue to attack and press they’re a real threat. Feel as though the Wanderers have to keep it more tight at the back
Garry
Roar Rookie
If Sydney beats both Perth & Roar theyre almost guaranteed to make the 6..the others have much inferior Goal differences. Once theyre theyll be dangerous...
Harry Brill
Roar Rookie
In terms of playing quality, City remain the benchmark of the competition. Against the Phoenix they were missing Leckie and van der Venne and still dominated. The only teams I can see truly competing with them at the moment are Adelaide and Western Sydney.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Now that City is guaranteed of top you would have to hope for City to be knocked out to ensure that anyway. At least this way there is a scenario City make the grand final and you have a Sydney team provide the atmosphere that was missing from last years grand final.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I would prefer the grand final to float, but I also know the A Leagues needs revenue. Sometimes unpopular decisions need to be made that are actually in the best interests of the long term health of the game, even if we don’t like them. I’m trying to see the positives, but if a Sydney team doesn’t make it, it may have as much atmosphere as a Macarthur v WU game which is a shame for football in Australia.
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
The fact that we have to hope for a Sydney club to make the Grand Final to ensure the best possible crowd and atmosphere sums up what a poor decision it is
Grem
Roar Rookie
I can’t imagine Sydney making it - even if they had the referees inside as everyone else insinuates. That’s why I’m hoping for a Wanderers v Adelaide final.
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
The state of the pitch looks horrendous with the NRL lines barely concealed and it really does look shocking from a viewer's point of view. Not much that can be done though
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Adelaide and City have had the helping hand of the refs, what the A-league needs is Sydney FC in the grand final because then they will max out the joint, then if Sydney cant make it it should be Wanderers second choice and Mariners distant third.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I know all the arguments about money and resources, but it’s great for our A Leagues to have teams setting a standard that others have to reach. Melbourne City are well ahead of Sydney and Victory and those two clubs need to make changes to players, coaches and administrators to catch up - so they need to get cracking. Then you also have a team like Adelaide also leading the way with their use of locals, young players and astute coaching. They are setting different benchmarks for others to emulate. There are clubs such as Sydney that could combine these two different roads to success and really become a leading club as well. These two teams (Adelaide and City) deserve to be in the grand final, but I am still hoping for an Adelaide v Wanderers game!
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
City , Tilio and Nabbout have really picked up their effort levels recently, berenguer is also getting fitter and back to last season fitness. Particularly since Jameison got sent off Tilio seems a lot more determined, for what reason I dont know. Jameison in the midfield was ordinary anyway. Phoenix in the second half they drop off defensively, they did a lot in attack not as much against Adelaide and lose their second game by a huge margin. The anticipated 7 way play off for 6th place may well turn into an even crazier 8 way play off for 5th and 6th.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
JMac and Tilio with a brace each was a tonic for supporters. And the scoreline pretty much reflected each teams grip on the game. The ground conditions prevented the usual half time football which would have been a shame for the kids, family and friends but hey, when you have a shared ground with NRL/rugby, and it's been raining then pitch conditions will be less than helpful for football. Onwards we march to a threepeat :thumbup: