After five rounds of the Hyundai A-League 2016/17 Season, there’s a logjam at the top of the ladder with five attackers equal on top with four goals each in the race for the Golden Boot.
It’s no surprise to see reigning golden boot winner Bruno Fornaroli among the early leaders. The Melbourne City skipper is right in the thick of it again after a superb last few weeks.
Surprising Hyundai A-League penalty stats
His classy double against Adelaide United in Round 4 was the standout performance for the Uruguayan, which included a stunning long-range strike and a “Panenka” penalty.
He’ll be confident of adding to his tally as Round 6 gets underway with a Thursday night home clashe against a Newcastle Jets down on confidence after back-to-back defeats.
The Jets have been hit by injuries to a few defenders this season and if they are a little vulnerable, Fornaroli is just the man to exploit that.
Across town at Victory and Besart Berisha and Marco Rojas also have four goals to their name.
Berisha got his season up-and-running with a hat-trick against Wellington Phoenix, meaning he’s now just six goals away from becoming the competition’s greatest-ever scorer.
BES v SANTA
The Albanian international goes up against a Western Sydney Wanderers outfit this Saturday night which has yet to keep a clean sheet this season.
And Berisha simply loves playing at Etihad Stadium, scoring a treble there against Phoenix in his last outing at the venue.
In the same match, Wanderers star Brendon Santalab also has the chance to go to the top.
You might remember “Santa” scored a stunning equaliser in the corresponding fixture last season.
After starting the campaign from the bench, Santalab has started the last two games – and scored in both – and seems to be Tony Popovic’s main man now.
Rojas won’t get a chance to add to his tally in the clash, away on international duty with the All Whites.
KEOGH v SKY BLUES DEFENCE
Perth Glory star Andy Keogh is one at the top of the list but comes up against the Hyundai A-League’s stingiest defence on Sunday.
How will he go trying to get past Danny Vukovic, Alex Wilkinson, Matt Jurman and Co. at Sydney FC?
Wellington Phoenix’s Roy Krishna has been the big mover over the last fortnight.
After the Nix failed to score in the first three weeks, the flying Fijian has netted three times in the last two games, including both in the 2-0 win over Newcastle Jets on Saturday.
Will this be the start of a huge month for Krishna and the boys from across the ditch? They head to Canberra this weekend to face the Mariners.
Brisbane Roar’s Jamie Maclaren has also started to find his feet in front of goal, scoring in consecutive games to be one of a handful of players with two goals to their name for the season.
But he’s been called into the Caltex Socceroos squad for next week’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Thailand, meaning he won’t get the chance to add to his tally against Adelaide United on Friday night.
CONTENDERS
Sydney FC skipper Alex Brosque, the Mariners’ Roy O’Donovan and Victory speedster Mitch Austin are other players well placed to be in contention to perhaps take the lead with three goals to their name.
And keep an eye of Adelaide United’s Spanish sensation Sergi Guardiola.
The striker has scored in successive games for the defending champions and could start to score plenty for the Reds with Marcelo Carrusca back in action.
So it’s hotting up in the Hyundai A-League Golden Boot race for the 2016/17 Season.
