A-League 2015-16: Melbourne City 5-1 Perth Glory at AAMI Park, Round 8

AARON Mooy’s brilliance helped Melbourne City return to the A-League’s top six with a comprehensive victory over Perth Glory.

ON Friday night, there was an eerie resemblance to four weeks ago for Melbourne City fans.

Friday night under lights at AAMI Park with the battling visitors on the ropes midway through the first half. This time the result was far different.

City showed their new merciless side, as they pounded visiting Perth Glory into submission with a 5-1 win.

The performance was headlined by another masterclass from Aaron Mooy, who celebrated the birth of his first child, daughter Skylar on Wednesday.

Mooy’s array of party tricks was matched with some serious substance, involved in all five goals _ a penalty, two assists and a hand in the other two.

Mooy played 90 on the night City capitulated against Newcastle Jets four weeks ago but Harry Novillo, Ivan Franjic and Erik Paartalu didn’t, proving that one man can’t carry a team.

And the aforementioned trio were key in City’s win, with Paartalu’s midfield physicality and composure and Novillo’s attacking x-factor keeping Glory at bay, not to mention their goals.

Franjic made his first City start and had an impressive 71 minutes at right-back.

Aaron Mooy was a standout for Melbourne City.

With Connor Chapman marshaling the defence and another goalscorer, A-League golden boot leader Bruno Fornaroli leading the attack, City’s line-up looks more balanced than ever.

City’s third win of the season lifts John van’t Schip’s side into fifth and in touch with the leading pack, while Glory remains just one point above bottom place Adelaide United.

It took just six minutes for City to open the scoring, when Paartalu headed home Mooy’s teasing free-kick.

Mooy’s exquisite skill set up the second, as he sold Marc Warren a dummy before dribbling past Diego Castro and crossing for Chapman who headed past Ante Covic.

Mooy’s work ethic was underlined minutes later when he was on the last line — literally — clearing Antony Golec’s header off the line as Thomas Sorensen appeared stranded.

Glory then had a host of chances, through Sidnei and Nebo Marinkovic, but the veteran Dane and his inexperienced defence stood tall.

No prizes for guessing who unlocked Glory’s defence for the third.

Bruno Fornaroli celebrates his goal.

Mooy’s pinpoint long pass found Corey Gameiro in acres of space and he cutback for Fornaroli, who outwitted Golec and Aryn Williams before finishing low to Covic’s left.

While Gameiro is itching for his first City goal his selfless cutback didn’t go unnoticed by Fornaroli, who swapped a warm embrace with his fellow attacker.

Former City player Richard Garcia had a goal correctly disallowed when Thwaite, who started in an offside position, blocked Franjic.

Persistent Glory finally found the back of the net a minute later when Sidnei headed home Marinkovic’s corner to send some nervous City players up the tunnel at half-time.

Glory made the first entries into the penalty area thereafter, but City found a crucial fourth to settle the nerves, as Frenchman Novillo struck a fierce half-volley from outside the box.

Intent on knocking their opponents to the canvas after so many times letting them back in, they pushed for a fifth and got it, as sub Stefan Mauk won a penalty, which saw Williams sent off for a second booking.

As if writing the script, Mooy stepped up and sent Covic the wrong way, paying tribute to his new-born in the celebration.

Originally published as A-League 2015-16: Melbourne City 5-1 Perth Glory at AAMI Park, Round 8