Stunning goals against Phoenix put Melbourne City back on winning path

Stunning goals from Ritchie De Laet and Bruno Fornaroli put Melbourne City back on the winning trail.

Melbourne City’s Bruno Fornaroli, left, celebrates his goal against Wellington with Riley McGree. Picture: AAP

Stunning goals from Ritchie De Laet and Bruno Fornaroli put Melbourne City back on the winning trail, 2-0, at the expense of Wellington Phoenix.

De Laet lashed home a 25-metre bomb in the ninth minute before Fornaroli made the points safe on the hour at AAMI Park.

City put on a confident display to sweep aside Mark Rudan’s ordinary outfit and also the memory of last week’s thrashing by Sydney FC.

Perhaps most importantly, their talisman got his first for the season.

Fornaroli had come under fire for his goalless start to the campaign, his second-longest scoring drought in his time in the A-League, but the 2016 golden boot winner came alive with a deft strike to double the home side’s lead in the second half.

Riley McGree showed patience with the ball before teeing up the 31-year-old Uruguayan striker on the edge of the box, who took one touch before curling the ball home at the far post.

Fornaroli’s precision strike was in contrast with the sheer power of De Laet’s opener.

The Belgian rasped home a cutback from Lachlan Wales that rocketed into the net from all of 25 metres, meaning City’s two marquee men brought home the points.

Last-ditch efforts from Wellington’s veteran defender Andrew Durante and Filip Kurto in the Phoenix goal prevented a scoreline blowout.

Durante was at full stretch to deny Florin Berenguer’s cross aimed for a free Fornaroli before halftime, with the goalkeeper making handy saves from both those attackers.

At the other end, Eugene Galekovic’s sole involvement of importance was clearing a Sarpreet Singh free kick.

Wellington’s best chance was stymied by referee Adam Fielding, who overturned his own decision to award a free kick on the edge of the City box after consulting the Video Assistant Referee.

Mitch Nichols’ shot on 66 minutes was originally given as handball against Scott Jamieson and might have seen a penalty awarded. Instead, Fielding used the technology to correctly signal for a drop ball after replays showed the ball had struck the City captain’s hand at close range while he held it over his chest.

Rudan, who was yellow-carded in the aftermath of the incident, was incensed at the call.

“It changes the game, only for them to turn around and say it wasn’t a handball. I don’t know what to say,” he said. “You can’t even talk to the officials, that’s the other problem.”

Rudan said the difference was “two quality strikes from outside the box from their marquees”.

In contrast, City coach Warren Joyce was happy with a stats sheet that showed 14 shots to five.

“We played some good football. We cut through the lines ... we created plenty of chances,” he said.

AAP