Melbourne City have clinched the final spot in this year’s Isuzu UTE A-League finals series, sneaking into sixth with a 1-0 victory over Western United at AAMI Park on Sunday.
Aurelio Vidmar’s side had no choice but to win or Western Sydney Wanderers would’ve finished sixth and their record streak of nine consecutive seasons of finals football would’ve come to an end.
Fittingly, it was a goal from the A-Leagues’ greatest ever scorer Jamie Maclaren in the 19th minute that steered City past Western United and into the post-season.
It has been a difficult campaign for Maclaren by his standards in front of goal and he recently hinted this season could be his last at the club where he has won four straight Golden Boots, but he made no mistake at the far post after Marin Jakolis touched on Tolgay Arslan’s corner.
Although, you could argue that two of the tightest offside calls you will ever see ultimately decided this game, sent City to the Finals and ended the Wanderers season.
The first was to deny Michael Ruhs an early opener in the first half and the second to deny Abel Walatee an equaliser with only a quarter of an hour remaining.
“You talk about the fine margins… it was probably two offsides of about 30 centimetres that have denied Western United what would’ve been firstly an opening goal and then an equaliser,” Network 10 commentator Robbie Thomson said.
“Correct decisions in the end, plus a couple of fantastic saves by Jamie Young.”
The opener came only a few minutes after Western saw that strike narrowly ruled out for offside, with Ruhs judged to have mistimed his run by the finest of margins.
City remained calm as the minutes ticked by, but in the 62nd minute came a worrying moment for their prospective finals campaign as midfield maestro Tolgay Arslan limped off and straight down the tunnel.
Incredibly, Arslan had completed 46 of his 47 passes to that point in another impeccable performance pulling the strings.
In the 68th minute, Maclaren had a golden chance to double City’s lead and all but confirm his side’s spot in the finals but he inexplicably put his strike straight at Tom Heward-Belle.
“You expect to see that ball nestling in the back of the net,” Network 10 commentator Robbie Thomson said incredulously.
“Jamie Maclaren, one on one with the keeper, 10 yards out and it was more like a back pass than a strike from the league’s all-time leading goal scorer.”
Former A-Leagues coach Phil Moss added: “I’m not sure i can add any words to what we’ve just seen.
“… Jamie Maclaren’s face said it all really. It was harder to miss than it was to score. He had virtually the whole goal to aim at with no one around him.
“Let’s hope for a goal scorer of his stature that doesn’t come back to haunt his side later in this game.”
Not long after, it looked like Moss’ prophecy may come to pass.
Western playmaker Matt Grimaldi produced a brilliant through ball to send young gun Abel Walatee in on goal and the 20-year-old finished with aplomb. City fans held their breaths, but their team was bailed out by the offside flag.
Ultimately, it was a matter of centimetres that decided the identity of the final team in this year’s Isuzu UTE A-League Finals Series.
That was the margin that ultimately set up a Melbourne Derby in the first week of the Finals and ended Western Sydney Wanderers’ season.
Given the excitement generated by this season, it felt poetic.
We’ve seen drama at almost every turn; from the Premier’s Plate race, to finals spots, the wooden spoon and records broken for goals scored. This may be the final twist.
That said, there could still be one to come with Adelaide United holding the potential to play Premiership party poopers in Gosford on Wednesday night.
For now, it’s celebrations in Melbourne and disappointment in Western Sydney.
City will meet Melbourne Victory next Sunday at AAMI Park. If the regular season is anything to go by, we’re in for one of the great Finals campaigns. Don’t miss a minute.
Here’s everything you need to know with the fixtures now locked in.
| Team | Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goal Difference | Points |
| 1. Wellington Phoenix | 27 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 16 | 53 |
| 2. Central Coast Mariners | 26 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 20 | 52 |
| 3. Melbourne Victory | 27 | 10 | 12 | 5 | 10 | 42 |
| 4. Sydney FC | 27 | 12 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 41 |
| 5. Macarthur FC | 27 | 11 | 8 | 8 | -3 | 41 |
| 6. Melbourne City | 27 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 39 |
| 7. Western Sydney Wanderers | 27 | 11 | 4 | 12 | -4 | 37 |
