Maclaren hat-trick lifts gloom for Glory as City put to sword

Perth Glory exacted a crumb of comfort from its salary cap scandal as Jamie Maclaren snared a treble in a morale-boosting 3-1 win over Melbourne City at nib Stadium on Sunday evening.

Jamie Maclaren takes the congratulations of teammate Danny De Silva after firing Perth Glory ahead against Melbourne City (AAP)

Jamie Maclaren takes the congratulations of teammate Danny De Silva after fring Perth Glory ahead against Melbourne City (AAP) Source: AAP

The in-form Australia U-23 striker was in lethal mood against finals-bound City with Aaron Mooy replying for the visitor, who had Paulo Retre controversially sent off by referee Chris Beath on the stroke of half-time.

The three points brought Glory's tally to 47 for the season after its final home game - but it can ony finish seventh as part of its punishment for salary cap breaches exceeding $400,000.

A crowd of just 5821 - Glory's worst of the season - showed up after calls from one supporters group to boycott the game in protest at Tony Sage's ownership style.

Goalkeeper Danny Vukovic starred for Glory with a string of crucial saves to keep his side in the match before City was reduced to ten men and the scene was set for Maclaren to inflict his damage.
Glory coach Kenny Lowe paid tribute to Vukovic and Maclaren.

"Vukovic is the best keeper in the league. He's top notch and a good guy, he works ever so hard on the training ground," he said.

"Jamie gets himself into good positions, he's starting to grow. He's maturing as a person and a player."

Lowe also acknowledged the resiliance of the club's suffering fans.

"I'm pleased for them, they're hurt as much as we're hurt. The fact that they came to support the boys is a testament to them.

"An FFA Cup Final and we're second in the league, most amount of away wins, 17 weeks at the top of the table.

"It's been an unbelievable year. It's also been an unbelievably tough year too."

With only pride at stake for Glory as it faced up to its exclusion from the finals, it was on the backfoot early on as fifth-placed Melbourne City tuned up for the play-offs.

Vukovic was called into action twice in the opening minutes to block goal-bound efforts from Frenchman Harry Novillo.

At the other end, Andy Keogh thought he had given Glory the lead with a thumping header from a Josh Risdon cross only for the linesman's flag to be raised after he had strayed offside.

Vukovic came to Glory's rescue again in the 16th minute with a reflex save to keep out Jonatan Germano's header from an Aaron Mooy free-kick.
Then Richard Garcia arrowed into the City box before firing off a shot which beat keeper Tando Velepahi but hit the base of the post.

Normally the creator, Mooy found himself with a chance to score sixty seconds later but blazed over after an intricate move had set him free.

David Williams was the next to run into the brick wall of Vukovic, hit shot cannoning back off the Glory keeper before Novillo had another crack which the keeper was equal too.

Williams looked certain to give City a 36th minute lead but, wth just Vukovic to beat, he fired over with his left foot after chesting the ball down.

City was hit by a sucker punch in the 42nd minute when Roma-bound youngster Danny De Silva - playing his farewell home game - released fellow rookie Maclaren down the right and he swept home an unstoppable drive past Velaphi for his sixth goal of the season.

It got even worse for City with the dramatic dismissal of Retre after he was shown two yellow cards inside 90 seconds.
Novillo continued his personal duel with Vukovic as he brought yet another flying save from the keeper in the 47th minute.

But he was finally beaten in the 52nd minute when Mooy curled a stunning free-kick up and over the wall and just inside the left-hand post after Richard Garcia had conceded the foul.

Maclaren struck again to restore Glory's lead in the 65th minute, squeezing the loose ball home after Velaphi had dived at the feet of De Silva.

And he completed his hat-trick in the 87th minute, side-footing home a cutbak from substitute Chis Harold inside the six-yard box.

City coach John van't Schip couldn't hide his disappointment about the performance with just one week to go before the finals.

"I am very disappointed because in the first half you have to finish it off but if the mindset's not good even if you get 11 or 12 opportunities then the goals aren't going to go in," he lamanted.

"If you don't want it enough it's not going to happen and that was a clear example today.

"Hopefully we can learn from this and take it with us, that's the only positive I can see from this game. Other than that, it is a very disappointing day here in Perth."

 


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5 min read
Published 19 April 2015 4:48pm
Updated 19 April 2015 9:53pm

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