Melbourne Heart striker Eli Babalj has achieved a lot in his two seasons in the Hyundai A-League, but there is one thing missing from his already impressive resume that he wants to add against Perth Glory.
Melbourne Heart striker Eli Babalj has achieved a lot in his two seasons in the Hyundai A-League, but there is one thing missing from his already impressive resume that he wants to add against Perth Glory.
Babalj has scored 11 goals from 34 appearances for Heart, but has never managed to find the back of the net against Glory, his old National Youth League side.
Heart travel to Perth for a cut-throat elimination final on Sunday and Babalj would love to break his drought in the city he spent much of his youth living in.
“It would be nice to get one in my home town,” Babalj said.
“I haven’t scored against them in the two seasons so I am really looking forward to getting one over there.”
Babalj started the season with the aim of scoring eight times and the 20-year-old has already netted on nine occasions as the Heart embark on their first finals appearance.
While Babalj will be working hard to find the back of the net against Glory, he said he would be more than happy if his scoring drought continues and the Heart progress to the second week of the finals.
“It has been good getting the goals as it has helped the team get in the playoffs,” he said.
“And there is a big buzz around especially now that we finally realise we are in the playoffs.”
“We are looking forward to the game on Sunday and hopefully it doesn’t stop and we continue on.”
And Babalj said Heart will fly to Western Australia full of confidence, given they beat Glory 2-1 away at nib Stadium in December courtesy of goals from Matt Thompson and Mate Dugandzic.
“We have shown over the season that our best performances have been away so we can take a lot out of that,” he said.
“We had a good draw in Perth last year and a good win there this season so I am sure the boys are looking forward to repeating it this Sunday.”
