Melbourne City have consolidated third spot on the Hyundai A-League ladder following a resounding 4-0 win over the Newcastle Jets at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
An early trademark header from City striker Tim Cahill opened the scoring, with substitute Nick Fitzgerald doubling the advantage after the interval with a delicate chip.
Two goals in six minutes from Bruno Fornaroli put the result beyond doubt, with the City captain converting from the penalty and sweeping home from close range.
While City dominated possession from the outset it was the visitors that had a great chance to open the scoring when Andrew Nabbout was played through on goal but he pushed his shot wide of the back post.
Aside from a chance to substitute Morten Nordstrand at the start of the second half that was to be as close as the Jets would come to finding the back of the net on a night City dominated.
Fornaroli came close to sealing a hat-trick with a couple of inviting late chances however it mattered little as his side claimed back-to-back wins for the first time since Round 2.
The result sees City move three points clear of Brisbane ahead of their match against the Reds, while Newcastle remain one win outside the top six with either the Wanderers or Phoenix to push ahead when they also meet on Sunday.
GOALS
1-0 Melbourne City: Tim Cahill, 12’
Josh Rose whipped in a cross to the six-yard line where Cahill got the better of Johnny Koutroumbis in the air and headed strongly past Jack Duncan. Cahill celebrated the goal by paying homage to Aussie tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt who was in the crowd with a mock serve.
2-0 Melbourne City: Nick Fitzgerald, 65’
Former Mariners pair Anthony Caceres and Fitzgerald combined in the attacking third, with Caceres chipping the Jets defence to play in his teammate. Fitzgerald, who’d been on the pitch less than ten minutes, showed great composure to chip the onrushing Duncan and hit the back of the net.
3-0 Melbourne City: Bruno Fornaroli (pen.), 75’
Bruce Kamau had been on the pitch less than three minutes when he won his side a penalty after being upended in the box by Daniel Mullen. City’s skipper stepped up to the spot, sending Duncan the wrong way with his conversion.
4-0 Melbourne City: Bruno Fornaroli, 81’
Ivan Franjic played in the overlapping run of Fitzgerald who fired the ball across the face of goal. Caceres got a touch as he miscued a shot but Fornaroli was on hand at the back post where he had plenty of time to pick his spot to grab a double.
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