Jamie Maclaren is closing in on Isuzu UTE A-League history, after scoring a double in Melbourne City’s 4-1 win over Wellington Phoenix on Easter Monday.
Two down, three to go.
Jamie Maclaren is within touching distance of becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in Isuzu UTE A-League history, after his brace in Melbourne City’s 4-1 win against Wellington Phoenix.
Maclaren now sits on 140 goals, two shy of all-time leader Besart Berisha (142) heading into the final three games of the regular season – where City face Central Coast Mariners, Western United and Western Sydney Wanderers – before finals beyond that.
Featured image: Melbourne City- Aleksandar Jason
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“I hope so,” Maclaren told Paramount + when asked if he hopes to break the record this season.
“Obviously, people were talking about it prematurely and I want to keep my head down until it’s done because with all the respect to Bes (Berisha) who’s a legend of our game and he deserves that credit, so I’m not going to talk about it until it’s done.”
Perhaps more importantly for his team, Maclaren goals, coupled by Marco Tilio’s brace and a hat-trick of assists from Andrew Nabbout took City within three points of wrapping a third consecutive A-League Men’s premiership.
The Golden Boot leader – who has 20 for the season – was awarded with the Isuzu UTE Player of the Match post-game by the broadcast team but despite his efforts, he felt the votes should have gone to his teammate.
“I disagree, Andy Nabbout three assists had a far better game than me,” he said.
“Look I don’t make those decisions. Credit to Andy and (Marco) Tilio for getting amongst the goals and we felt like ourselves tonight.”
Nabbout was sensational all evening, teeing up Maclaren for both of his goals and Tilio’s opener with some swift work down the channels, which caused headaches for the Wellington back four the entire game.
His work was pivotal in getting the best out of Maclaren who finally ended his five-game goalscoring drought – almost the equal-longest in his league career since a six-game dry run between November 2014 to January 2015 while he was at Perth Glory.
“I mean, I’m not losing sleep over this. It’s a bigger picture,” he said.
“The older you get, the more wiser you get and being a leader in this team, you kind of take three points more than anything, rather than goals.
“I know goals are going to come in this team. I just have got to put myself in the right areas and not panic.
“When I’ve spoken to Michael Petrillo (Director of Football) or the gaffer, there’s no pressure on me, so I just go out there and enjoy football and play some good football and take the chances when they come.”
A broken toe had severely hindered his output over the last month, as he battled through the pain barrier to lead the league leaders’ attack that was already hindered by injuries.
“Look, without making excuses it still hasn’t mended but it’s getting better week on week,” he said.
“If I’m putting myself out there to battle then I’m good to go. So there’s no there’s no issues from my end and it’s a pleasure to play this group of boys.”
In positive news, Mathew Leckie has returned to training but is still a few weeks away, as is Dutch midfielder Richard van der Venne.
However, centre-back Curtis Good came from the field at half-time, as did midfielder Valon Berisha later in the game.
“Curtis Good, he got a knock so we will see how he is,” coach Rado Vidosic said post-game.
“I don’t know about Valon. I will need to find out. I think it was his groin and he was holding his groin, so hopefully it’s nothing serious and I mean he’s been fantastic for us. He’s a machine and I think he’s going to be okay for the Mariners.”
MATCH REPORT – AAP
Jamie Maclaren has broken his goal-scoring drought in sensational style to lead Melbourne City to a 4-1 romp over a 10-man Wellington and a step closer to a third consecutive A-League Men premiership.
City need just three points from their remaining three games to claim the premiers plate after Maclaren’s brace and Marco Tilio’s double delivered a seven-point buffer over Adelaide at the top of the table.
Maclaren now has 20 goals for the season, four clear of second-placed Jason Cummings (Central Coast) as he eyes a fourth consecutive golden boot.
He sits just two behind all-time leading ALM goalscorer Besart Berisha (142 goals).
Fifth-placed Wellington lost their third straight game and will be without Joshua Laws for at least a week after he was sent off in the 65th minute for a high boot on Andrew Nabbout.
Wellington should have scored in the fourth minute when Oskar Zawada dragged a golden opportunity wide while City goalkeeper Tom Glover denied Alex Rufer and Zawada in quick succession in the 26th.
Then Maclaren struck.
Goalless in five matches amid a lingering toe injury, the Socceroo danced through the Wellington defence in the 34th minute before drilling a strike into the bottom corner.
Wellington unsuccessfully appealed for a penalty in first-half injury time when Zawada was brought down by Curtis Good.
The Phoenix equalised via Steven Ugarkovic’s fierce deflected shot in the 49th minute, but it spurred City into some of their best football in weeks.
In the 52nd minute, Nabbout toyed with Wellington’s defence and dragged a clever ball through the box for Maclaren to hook home.
Callan Elliot made a terrific clearance off the line to deny Nabbout in the 55th, but six minutes later, the attacker charged down the left wing and picked out Tilio.
The Socceroo coolly brought the ball down then lifted a left-footed chip into the net.
Once Laws received his marching orders, Wellington were just hanging on.
The dam wall broke in the 83rd minute after City pulled off a lovely build-up which ended with Jordan Bos squaring the ball for Tilio to bury his seventh goal of the season.
