Records were falling like shattered glass recently when Melbourne City laid a three-nil humiliation on Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park.
The victory put City on top of the A-League for the first time as the season winds into its final two weeks. It took them over forty minutes to break through the Wellington defense, but once City scored, records continued to fall.
Harry Novillo was the first to get past Wellington keeper Glen Moss, whose snazzy red and white gloves never got near the ball. Four Phoenix defenders were turned into spectators when a bold dink from Bruno Fornaroli permitted Novillo to slot a gimme into the top right corner.
Then, filling in for absent spot-kick taker Aaron Mooy, Foraroli followed his saved shot with his own rebound.
Fornaroli’s brace gave him 22 for the season, which broke Bersart Berisha’s previous record of 21 in an A-League season. Fornaroli also became City’s top goal scorer of all time. City also set a new A-League record for goals in a season. The final first was 10 or more goals in a season by Fornaroli, Mooy and Novillo.
The Phoenix’s arise from the ashes will have to wait. At the top of the table, City, Brisbane Roar, Adelaide United, Wanderers and Glory are all well positioned.
