Socceroos in the A-League: Maclaren scores quick-fire brace as City leapfrog Macarthur

Socceroos striker Jamie Maclaren made it ten goals in ten games as Melbourne City extended their winning streak to four games with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Macarthur FC at AAMI Park on Friday night.

City ripped the Bulls apart in a devastating 12-minute spell in the first half, going three goals to the good by the 35-minute mark and coasting all the way to the final whistle with their lead and clean sheet intact.

Jamie Maclaren scored the first two of his side's goals within minutes of each other to put the hosts in a commanding position before Craig Noone struck a third past Adam Federici to make it 3-0 just beyond the half-hour mark. Andrew Nabbout wreaked havoc in the opening stages and played a heavy hand in all three of his side's goals.

READ: Aussies Abroad: Boyle and Sainsbury score while Langerak's perfect start continues
WATCH: Grant celebrates milestone by firing Sydney past Western United

City were unable to build on their lead in the second half, but didn't need to as Macarthur struggled to make anything out of their 12 attempts throughout the game.

The Bulls began the evening in second spot but were usurped by City by full-time, as Patrick Kisnorbo's outfit moved to within six points of Central Coast Mariners with a game in hand on the league leaders with a momentum-building victory.

Socceroos Browser Extension Thin Banner

Key Moments

City took charge of the contest when Maclaren scored his ninth and tenth goals of the 2020/21 A-League campaign in quick succession to put the hosts two goals ahead with less than half an hour on the clock.

Nabbout set City on their way to taking the lead with an incisive pass from the tip of the box down toward the byline, splitting Denis Genreau and Michael Ruhs to find Nathaniel Atkinson in space. The City full-back played a first-time cross back toward the danger zone, floating the ball in the air for Maclaren to attack and head home with deadly precision.

City quickly looked to compound Macarthur's misery, noticing the visitors were reeling after falling behind. 

A cutting through ball from Scott Jamieson down the left flank exposed Macarthur's defensive line, which was all at sea just two minutes after conceding the opening goal. Nabbout ambled onto the ball, drove into the box and played the ball along the ground back toward Maclaren, licking his lips at the back post.

The Socceroos striker's first attempt on goal hit Antony Golec on the goal-line, but the ball fortuitously fell back into Maclaren's path to convert on the second attempt.


MACLAREN BRACE: Socceroo scores twice in two minutes

With two goals to his name already, Maclaren looked to wrap up his hat-trick just after the half-hour mark.

He went awfully close to achieving his goal when he brushed a lethal cross from Atkinson just wide of the post, leaving Federici planted to the spot as the ball flashed across his goal, dropping on the side of his right-hand goalpost to spare the Bulls from going three goals down.


CHANCE: Maclaren - City striker looking for more goals

Nabbout and Maclaren had played their respective parts to get City two goals to the good which left Noone hungry to get in on the act himself.

Just ten minutes after Maclaren's second goal hit the back of the net Noone made it three, galloping down the left flank to link up with Nabbout's quick-thinking ball from inside his own half to set Noone in on goal.

The City winger had Mark Milligan for company, but sent the Bulls captain sliding with a faked attempt to shoot before cutting onto his right boot. Noone shaped to shoot to the far corner but found space above the falling Federici in the centre of goal.


GOAL: Noone - Macarthur falling apart

Macarthur returned from the break in desperate need of a lift but the hosts enjoyed the better of the chances in the goalless second half.

Florin Berenguer went closest to scoring City's fourth of the game. Nabbout found himself on the left flank where Metcalfe - who scored two Matchweek 11 goals thanks to lung-busting runs from midfield - was steaming into the box awaiting Nabbout's pass.

Metcalfe lost Beñat Etxebarria who stopped his chase into defence, allowing Nabbout to slide the ball into his path. Metcalfe looked up and rattled a cross to the back post where Berenguer stood in wait, but the Frenchman couldn't get his unmarked header on target.