The performance of Marvin Angulo in Tuesday night’s 4-0 win over Wellington Phoenix has convinced Melbourne coach Ernie Merrick he now has the depth needed in attack coming in into the Hyundai A-League finals series.
Melbourne has assumed top spot on the table with just three games to go and a victory over Gold Coast on Friday would all but sew up a top-two spot and the double chance that comes with it.
Merrick is pleased that after three consecutive home wins, the Premier’s Plate is firmly in Melbourne’s grasp in the run to the finals and only a slip up from the defending champions would see it relinquish the title.
“Everything’s in our hands, we don’t have to rely on opposing teams being beaten or drawing it’s all in our hands. We’ve just got to keep playing consistently the way we are playing,” he said.
“We’ve scored 12 goals in our past three games, two clean sheets, conceded two and our goal difference is 16 now. It’s a pretty ideal run into the finals.”
After battling to get into the game in the first 45 minutes, Angulo, starting in just his second Hyundai A-League game, took control, setting up Archie Thompson for the second goal, while he could have scored three himself. Merrick hailed it as a breakthrough for the Costa Rican.
“I think he’s coming to terms with the physicality of the game. He’s getting into the rhythm, speed and tempo. He understands how we want to play and get the ball in behind defences and sprint onto them,” he said.
“He just got so much of the ball and he’s got such lovely ball control and he’s got great vision, he’s a huge asset for our team.”
Thompson agrees that there is a much greater depth up front and praised the improvement of both Angulo and Robbie Kruse.
“I think Kruse has been outstanding for us. He’s been making some fantastic runs. I can pull out and know that he is already making a run,” he said. “Angulo now that he can actually play, after having that delay with his visa, I’ve always said he is going to be something special and now he’s starting to believe it.”
“We’ve just got so much confidence now and we’re excited about the upcoming games.”
