Craig Goodwin's dream homecoming to Adelaide United continued on Wednesday night as his goal and assist inspired the Reds to an important three points, while Jamie Maclaren's purple patch was recognised with the PFA's Player of the Month award.
Check out the latest Socceroos in the A-League stories, involving two high-flying Aussie attackers, right here.
WATCH: Socceroos in the A-League - Maclaren nets decisive late spot kick
Adelaide United moved into second spot on the A-League table after notching a 3-1 win over Macarthur FC at Coopers Stadium on Wednesday night.
An early Tomi Juric goal was cancelled out by a simple finish to Bulls striker Matt Derbyshire before half-time, set up by a magnificent through pass from Jake Hollman.
But the Reds emerged from the break to regain their advantage through Craig Goodwin's finish from the penalty spot. Ben Halloran put the icing on the cake with a volleyed back-heel scored late in the second half to seal the 3-1 victory.
The Reds lost 4-0 to the Bulls in Matchweek 8, but looked nothing like the side who fell to the hefty defeat at Campbelltown Stadium.
Goodwin - who returned to Adelaide shortly after the 4-0 loss - ran rampant down the left wing, assisting Juric's early goal, scoring one of his own and contributing in the build-up to Halloran's classy finish.
Securing three points helped Adelaide separate from Macarthur to go one point behind Central Coast Mariners at the top of the table. It's a seventh win in nine games for the Reds, who have well and truly turned their form around since Macarthur tore them apart in Matchweek 8.
Melbourne City FC’s goal-scoring machine Jamie Maclaren has been voted by his A-League peers as the PFA Player of the Month for his performances in March.
With six goals in five matches, Maclaren’s form in front of goal last month was pivotal to City’s five consecutive wins, helping establish the Melbourne club as serious A-League contenders.
Maclaren edged out March nominees Craig Goodwin and teammate Curtis Good. When accepting the award, a humble Maclaren said Good was more deserving of the award following a solid month in City’s backline, while remaining grateful to win the peer-voted award.
“March was a great month for us as a club at Melbourne City; there were some good wins and it was nice to score six goals in consecutive games,” Maclaren said.
“But I feel my teammate Curtis Good was hard done by! He’s been the standout centre-back in the league and I thought he deserved the award, but I’m obviously humbled and grateful that my peers and the guys that I play against voted for me.
“I think all round it was a very good month so we just want to build on that now.”
The Socceroos target man scored six times in his five appearances during a prolific spell for City. In March Patrick Kisnorbo’s side netted 17 times and conceded just once in wins over Central Coast Mariners, Macarthur, Melbourne Victory and Western Sydney Wanderers, the latter on two separate occasions.
The Socceroo commenced the month in fine form, netting a brace in City’s 2-0 win over the Wanderers, before scoring another double in a 3-0 win over Macarthur and netting in the 6-0 Melbourne Derby drubbing of Victory.
WATCH: Maclaren thumps home sixth goal in as many games
WATCH: Another week, another A-League goal for Jamie Maclaren
His stoppage-time goal in City’s 4-1 win over Western Sydney was named the A-league Goal of Matchweek 14 by Socceroos legend and PFA Life Member, John Aloisi.
Maclaren’s other goal came in a decisive 2-0 win over the Mariners during a successful month for City.
Maclaren has scored 14 goals in his 15 games for City this season, which has elevated the former Brisbane Roar and Perth Glory forward into second on the all-time A-League goal scorer’s charts with 93 goals in 140 appearances.
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