Melbourne Heart skipper Simon Colosimo says former Socceroos hero John Aloisi can prove a trumpcard in the Hyundai A-League new boys’ push for a playoff berth.
The 34-year-old may be in the swansong of a career that has seen him grace the world’s top three leagues in England, Italy and Spain, but illustrated his true value with a double in Heart’s comeback 2-2 draw against crosstown rivals Melbourne Victory last Saturday night.
The point kept the Heart’s hopes of making the finals in their inaugural Hyundai A-League season well and truly alive with Colosimo paying tribute to the man best remembered for the penalty against Uruguay that sent Australia to the 2006 World Cup.
“It’s typical of JA, talk about someone who scores important goals everywhere he goes,” Colosimo said.
“They were two of the most important goals this club will have, not only because it’s against Victory, but also where the club is at this point of the season.”
Aloisi’s double takes his tally for this campaign to seven goals from 17 appearances, meaning he leads the Heart’s scoring charts.
Four have come in this impressive six match unbeaten run put together by the Heart, gleaning 12 of a possible 18 points along the way.
A fine effort for someone who has stated this season will be his last as a player in a career that has taken in European clubs such as Cremonese, Coventry City, Portsmouth, Osasuna and Alaves before moving into a coaching role.
The 55-time capped Socceroo will coach the Heart’s youth team in 2011-12.
The battle for the last two finals spots promises to go down until the final round, with four teams separated by three points.
Here are the current standings:
Fifth – Melbourne Victory (played 26) 34 points, goal difference 0.
Sixth – Melbourne Heart (played 27) 33 points, goal difference -9.
Seventh – Wellington Phoenix (played 25) 32 points, goal difference -2.
Eighth – Newcastle Jets (played 25) 31 points, goal difference -4.
The Jets’ next two matches are again Phoenix and Victory, both away from home, with the Phoenix also playing top two Brisbane Roar and Adelaide United in the next three rounds.
Heart meet ladder leaders Brisbane Roar on Saturday before hosting their final two games at AAMI Park against Central Coast and Sydney.
Victory has a road trip to Townsville to play the Fury then home matches against Gold Coast and Newcastle before their final match against Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium.
