Melbourne City cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory against Wellington Phoenix at home to claim top spot with just two rounds remaining.
John van’t Schip’s men were not at their best, however they had more than enough quality to edge themselves past a potential banana skin opponent.
The first half failed to spark into life as City struggled to create a route to goal, only for the imagination of Harry Novillo and Bruno Fornaroli to combine to mesmerising effect.
The dynamic duo played a quick one-two, before the league’s leading marksmen expertly chipped the ball into the path of the on-rushing Novillo to fire past a despairing Glen Moss.
In the 66th minute Fornaroli scored his 21st goal of the season and sealed the points for the home side, despite Moss saving his penalty kick at the first attempt but could not prevent the Uruguayan converting the follow up.
The foreign import then provided an unbelievable moment of class, following superb buildup play from Nick Fitzgerald, to unleash a powerful curling effort from 20 yards and become City’s all-time leading goalscorer and break the record for most goals in a single season.
City have a huge opportunity to seal a top two spot next week away to Perth, while the Phoenix will look to restore some pride next weekend at home to Melbourne Victory.
Here are some of the best reactions on Twitter:
They can't stop scoring, imagine how many goals @MelbourneCity would have scored if @CoreyGameiro was fit. Stop it. #MCYvWEL
— Tim Barrow (@TheBarrow) March 28, 2016
Just glad Mooy wasn't playing for them tonight. Was ugly enough for us without him!#COYN #MCYvWEL
— Tam Cramer (@tamcramer) March 28, 2016
How long will it take to naturalize Fornaroli? Make it happen!#MCYvWEL
— Todd Baker (@subastral) March 28, 2016
It’s just not fair what @BFornaroli is doing in the a-league! Way too good for the league #MCYvWEL #MelbourneCityFC #ridiculous
— joseph pagano (@joeypagz3) March 28, 2016
Just keeps getting better from Fornaroli. Has the league in the palm of his hand. #MCYvWEL
— João Lindinho (@jalindon) March 28, 2016
So does Fornaroli go to China like everyone else, or can CFG persuade him to stay? #MCYvWEL
— Peter (@nutwals) March 28, 2016
A big player like Mooy is needed at City to keep players like Novillo in check & on his toes.tendency to bludge if he’s top dog #MCYvWEL
— Darko (@darko_music) March 28, 2016
Need to bring in relegation! Nix arent good enough for this league im afraid! Woeful defending. Feel sorry for Moss. #MCYvWEL
— keith block (@sarfend) March 28, 2016
Let’s be honest, that was all Fitzgerald with that goal, class act. Class club. #MCYvWEL
— George Nikolaou (@PossiblyGeorge) March 28, 2016
@BFornaroli stop it! Hard not to think their might be some overseas clubs coming at him with their checkbooks #MCYvWEL
— Nick Bruce (@NickBruce66) March 28, 2016
David Williams spent over 100 games setting record for most @MelbourneCity goals. Took Fornaroli less than a season to break it! #MCYvWEL
— Brendan Da Costa (@BrendanDaCosta) March 28, 2016
Call me crazy, still not convinced Melbourne City will win the Grand Final. Not sold on defence, although has definitely improved #MCYvWEL
— Ben Smith (@BenSmith94) March 28, 2016
Well done City. First time top this season, broken goals record, Fornaroli #ALeague goal record. Two tough games coming up though #MCYvWEL
— Janek Speight (@JanekSpeight) March 28, 2016
Nix not in the mood for doing any favours tonight, or even playing football, really. Shocking stuff. #MCYvWEL
— Justin Civitillo (@JC_Kazama) March 28, 2016
Bruno Fornaroli isn't a marquee, go figure. That's the value of a good scouting network #MCYvWEL
— Ben C (@SYDLUFC) March 28, 2016
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