A-League: Bruno Fornaroli scores against former club as Perth Glory stun Melbourne City

The match turned into a big Bruno Fornaroli love-in, despite him donning the Perth Glory kit and scoring in a 3-0 win, as he got a standing ovation from Melbourne City fans after an incredible display.

Bruno Fornaroli (left) celebrates his gaol against Melbourne City. Picture: Getty Images

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The affection for Bruno Fornaroli was such that you could have been mistaken for thinking he was still a Melbourne City player.

The City great and fan favourite left the club in acrimonious circumstances last February, but with the “culprit” since departing it lacked the spite that would have otherwise simmered.

It turned into a big Bruno love-in, despite him donning the Perth Glory kit and scoring against City in a 3-0 win, as he got a standing ovation from City fans when he was taken off in the dying minutes.

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Perth Glory striker Bruno Fornaroli kept his celebrations to a minimum.

It was a bizarre night all round at AAMI Park as Fornaroli haunted his former club – respectfully at least.

“I swear, for me it was crazy. I see the love from the fans, for me - I think it’s the best. More than the title you can win, more than the trophy you can win,” Fornaroli said.

“At the end, football is this. I prefer this than maybe someone will win one trophy for the club and no-one will remember him, no-one will say goodbye or hello. But the feeling i felt in minute 86, this no-one can compare. So for me, this is the best I have tonight.”

The A-League, a young competition bereft of deep-rooted rivalries that exist overseas and in the AFL for instance, was robbed of an epic grudge match, with Fornaroli never facing his adversary Warren Joyce, who was sacked at the end of last season.

A transfer window may have paved the way for a January transfer to Perth Glory. Wouldn’t that have been something.

Melbourne City’s defence had no answer for Fornaroli.

Instead, the record goalscorer sat in the AAMI Park stands watching his teammates for months, before City agreed to pay him out and release him in February, just after the transfer window closed.

It was sad and ridiculous in equal measure. A $1.5 million-dollar marquee gun and one of the few recognisable figures for fans and kids alike, wilting away in the stands because of a fallout with a coach, a relationship that was doomed from the get-go.

The silver lining for City fans is that it paved the way for Jamie Maclaren to arrive, the club’s new cult hero and prolific marksman.

But the collateral damage is profound, and the disappointing 6579 crowd – considering City is second and it was Fornaroli’s comeback game – suggests that some fans have walked and it’ll take more than a few wins and Maclaren hat-tricks to get them back.

The 3-0 loss appears to be an aberration, with City as uncharacteristically flat as Glory was impressive, showing signs of the form that took them top of the ladder last season.

Diego Castro was a standout for Perth Glory against Melbourne City.

BRUNO WATCH

There was an eerie vibe around the stadium when Fornaroli opened the scoring after shoddy City defending midway through the first half.

Fornaroli apologetically put his hands together in a clear mark of respect to the fans who once adored him.

But he subconsciously still set off on a trot, with that winner’s mentality born from his modest upbringing and refined on the streets of Salto, Uruguay coursing through his veins.

It was classic Fornaroli, using his stocky frame to legally knock his opponent – in this instance Harrison Delbridge – off balance before exploiting flat-footed keeper Dean Bouzanis with a perfectly directed header.

“I have to fight against big boys every time and I have to use my body in the best way and I believe in that ball and I go for that and finally I scored the first goal,” he said.

And he toiled hard for his team, chasing back as Glory sat deep after going two-goals up, and cutting off City passes.

Fornaroli acknowledges the crowd after his impressive return.

MIXED MEMORIES

AAMI Park holds mixed memories for Fornaroli.

The fond ones include some stunning and vital goals and FFA Cup success – still City’s only men’s trophy.

On the flipside, watching from the stands for three months was the lowlight.

Fornaroli is certainly trimmer than last season with City, which was believed to have been central to the fallout with Joyce.

The Uruguayan preferred to focus on the good times.

“It’s strange, you know - I have great memories here, I give respect for them like they give me tonight for me,” he said.

“So I (didn’t celebrate) because I have good friends here and good memories - the fans you see tonight, have big love for me and I try to not celebrate and show respect for them.”

Perth Glory are back in business.

SLEEPING GIANT AWOKEN?

Glory’s attack has not yet clicked, but the root of its problems stem from defence with the clean sheet music to coach Tony Popovic’s ears.

It contrasts with stability of City’s defence, having picked virtually the same back four all season, though it didn’t seem to matter on Friday.

Fornaroli’s opener came just metres away from his last City goal, in his last game for the club in a 2-0 win over Wellington, 13 months ago.

“We’re pleased with how he (Bruno) is progressing. We knew he’d handle the situation and the goal is the icing for him in a good match,” Popovic said.

“He has very fantastic memories and we don’t want him to forget those or reflect poorly on them. He’s delighted with his time (at City) now he’s at Glory and doing a good job for us.

“He’s a goalscorer and a very good player. Good players can adapt, he’s a very good player.

“The players are getting stronger physically.”

City were always second best on the night.

CITY SHOCKER

It was an uncharacteristically flat performance from City, one which can happen after a bye.

Maclaren was feeding off scraps as City struggled to break down disciplined Glory.

City coach Erick Mombaerts will want a reaction last week, for bad habits can quickly form.

“We need to be better defensively, we let the opponent turn, we were not aggressive enough,” Mombaerts said.

“It’s not about physical aspect, more about mental. We knew it will be a tough game.

“It’s difficult to break a defensive block like that and when they lead they are more confident.”