On-loan Tottenham Hotspur product Shayon Harrison scored a double in Melbourne City’s commanding 5-0 victory over Central Coast Mariners on Friday.
Harrison’s gorgeous solo goal kicked Warren Joyce’s side into gear late in the opening half and the Englishman clinched his first Hyundai A-League brace with another smooth finish early in the second.
Riley McGree and Dario Vidosic joined in on the 20-minute rout either side of half time and substitute Ramy Najjarine added a stoppage-time screamer as City extended their dominant record at AAMI Park to 12 matches unbeaten.
Joyce’s men now await the outcome of Wellington Phoenix’s trip to Perth Glory on Sunday to learn next weekend’s Elimination Final opponents.
Harrison’s mazy dribble and cool finish past Mariners keeper Adam Pearce livened up what had been an uninspiring opening at City’s AAMI Park fortress.
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It also ensured the Mariners finish the campaign without collecting a clean sheet – only the third time Australian national league history that a team has done so.
City finished the half with a flourish. McGree – who scored two against Wellington Phoenix last Sunday – ghosted into the box unmarked and buried Scott Jamieson’s cross on the volley to double the advantage three minutes before the interval.
Having found their groove late in the first half, the hosts flexed their muscles early in the second when Vidosic tucked Lachlan Wales’ cross across the six-yard box in at the back post.
Another decisive piece of wing play from the former Mariner saw Harrison help himself to a double after taking Wales’ ball in his stride and threading City’s fourth through the legs of Pearce.
Ethiopian-born midfielder Idrus Abdulahi became City’s youngest ever player late in the day and the youngster helped add an exclamation mark to a dominant showing, as Najjarine thumped in a fifth on the counter.
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