A-League 2020: Maclaren bags a double to seal Golden Boot and lift City to win over United
Jamie Maclaren scored twice to snare the Golden Boot and inspire Melbourne City to a 3-1 win over Western United.
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Socceroos striker Jamie Maclaren snared sole possession of the A-League’s Golden Boot on Wednesday night, scoring a brace in Melbourne City’s 3-1 win over Western United at Jubilee Stadium.
Maclaren’s double, his 21st and 22nd goals of the season, denied Sydney FC’s Adam Le Fondre a share of the scoring gong, with the English marksman finishing the regular season with 20 goals.
United’s Besart Berisha, who started the game on the bench, finished with 19 goals after scoring a penalty five minutes after entering the contest in the second half.
Berisha was among a host of players left out of United’s starting side by coach Mark Rudan, who had an eye on this weekend’s elimination finals.
City’s win stopped United’s run of three straight victories and ended the A-League newcomers’ hopes of finishing the season in third spot.
Instead, United placed fifth and will now meet fourth-placed Brisbane Roar in Sunday’s sudden-death playoff at Bankwest Stadium.
In Saturday’s do-or-die final at the same venue, Wellington Phoenix, who finished the season in third place, will take on sixth-placed Perth Glory.
Second-placed City and Premier’s Plate winners Sydney FC don’t play again until next Wednesday in the semi-finals to decide which teams will meet in Sunday week’s grand final at Bankwest Stadium.
City coach Erick Mombaerts said the win was the “best way” for his side to prepare for the finals series.
He was also delighted City had achieved their pre-match target of ensuring Maclaren gained sole possession of the Golden Boot.
“We wanted to give some good ball to Jamie to finish with the Golden Boot - it was very important,” the French mentor said.
United coach Mark Rudan was confident the defeat would not derail his side’s momentum heading into the finals.
“We’re in a very good place,” Rudan said.
“The most important thing was no injuries ... all in all we’re quite content.
“We’re playing great football at the right time.”
City took control early against United, with Moudi Najjar making the most of a rare starting opportunity when he gave the Mombaerts-coached team a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute.
Left unmarked in a dangerous position in United’s penalty area, Najjar made the most of the pass he received from Connor Metcalfe to score his first A-League goal.
City doubled their lead in the 57th minute when Maclaren scored from the penalty spot after a handball offence from United defender Tomislav Uskok.
Berisha and fellow United star Alessandro Diamanti came on in the 65th minute, and the pair had an almost immediate impact.
Diamanti played a long ball into Berisha’s path, with the star forward earning a penalty when he was brought down by Richard Windbichler.
Berisha converted to cut City’s lead in half, but it was Maclaren who had the last laugh in the battle of the rival forwards when he scored his second and City’s third from close range in the 86th minute to seal the three points for his team.
Originally published as A-League 2020: Maclaren bags a double to seal Golden Boot and lift City to win over United