Jamie Maclaren double secures Melbourne City win over Adelaide

When City Football Group bought Melbourne Heart in 2014, this is what they had in mind.

Melbourne City striker Jamie Maclaren fires in his second goal of the game against Adelaide United at AAMI Park. Picture: AAP

When City Football Group bought Melbourne Heart in 2014, this is what they had in mind.

Socceroos, gun internationals and hot young prospects led by a coach who adopts an offensive, possession-based style.

Progression was followed by regression over the last two years. But City appear to be back on track, with Sunday night’s vital 2-1 win over Adelaide United the perfect prelude to Wednesday’s FFA Cup final.

Jamie Maclaren fits the Socceroo bill, bagging an impressive brace, while Young Socceroos Connor Metcalfe and Ramy Najjarine produced their best games to date in City colours.

It leaves Melbourne Victory lagging behind City and expansion club Western United in the Victorian stakes, in terms of both points and productivity.

While Erick Mombaerts is in his first season at City, he is conscious of the club’s history of woeful starts to the season and what momentum can do, as underlined by their run to the Cup final.

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City’s win — just the third time they have won their first home game of the season in 10 campaigns — was key as both teams had an eye on Wednesday’s FFA Cup in their selections, and brought a huge roar from the 7399 fans at the final whistle.

Maclaren was always a lock for the first XI, but Austrian Richard Windbichler, Rostyn Griffiths and Najjarine completed Mombaerts’ four changes as he balanced his side for two crucial games in four days.

Curtis Good, Josh Brillante, Javier Cabrera and Adrian Luna all made way, with Brillante, Cabrera and Luna appearing in the second stanza.

Adelaide United owners’ shoestring approach was underlined with just four substitutes named on the bench, despite clubs now being allowed seven.

City fans sang “Jamie Maclaren, he scores when he wants” and it’s not far off at the moment.

His brace took his tally for City this season to eight in five games including FFA Cup appearances, and 12 in seven games all up once Socceroos are factored in.

His first against Adelaide was the classic goal of a poacher whose confidence is high. Peeling off, Maclaren remained focused to stay onside before controlling the ball with his thigh and guiding it home with the outside of this right boot.

The kids contributed massively to the goal, with Najjarine playing a key role in the build-up and Metcalfe’s urgency pinning United back, with the teenager’s strike leading to Maclaren’s crumb.

Maclaren appeared to have the ball on a string, as it fell perfectly for him just four minutes later, as he displayed his ambidextrous ability to blast home a left-foot volley.

He had two golden chances to net a third, but was subbed off with 11 minutes left, with fuel and frustration left in the tank — gesturing on the bench after falling agonisingly short of completing his eighth career hat-trick.

Ex-City player, Riley McGree returned to haunt his old side.

Playing in his favoured central role, McGree blasted home with his right foot midway through the second half to surprisingly bring Adelaide back into the contest.

He should have equalised moments later, only to blast wide.

With revenge on the menu and Ben Halloran, George Blackwood, Jordan Elsey and James Troisi all a chance to return for Adelaide in the FFA Cup final at Coopers Stadium, it promises to be a cracker.

HERALD SUN