By Lachlan Mitchell
Melbourne City was back in action over the week as it looked to extend its lead at the top of the table.
City first faced Wellington Phoenix in Sydney on Saturday night.
The boys from Casey went into the clash with the return of the likes of Mathew Leckie and Marco Tilio from international duties.
Melbourne started well and looked threatening from the opening whistle and finally broke the deadlock in the 16th minute.
A City corner-kick found the head of Wellington defender Finn Suman, who couldn’t get out of the way, heading home an own goal.
The boys in blue couldn’t impact the scoreboard creating a litany of opportunities in the first half.
After the main-break the floodgates opened for the City attack. French International Florin Berenguer continued his stellar form this season setting up Mathew Leckie in the 50th minute.
A well steered pass across goal leaving Leckie free to tap home his side’s second, into an open goal.
Andrew Nabbout was quickly on the scoreboard with a well-drilled ball past the keeper. The striker fired from the middle of the box, rocketing the ball into the net.
City’s fourth of the evening came from another set-piece. Connor Metcalfe was subbed on for Berenguer and immediately made any impact. Metcalfe finding the head of Curtis Good for his sides fourth of the afternoon.
Tilio was once again a man on a mission, as he bulleted a ball from within the 18-yard box past the Phoenix keeper to make it 5-0.
Tilio’s goal coming after another set-piece blunder from the Phoenix defenders.
A few more grains of salt were added to the already gaping Wellington wound.
Tilio linked up with a Curtis Good long ball to the feet of the young-striker. A deft-touch on his left foot rolling past the keeper scrapping past the goal line for City’s sixth of the afternoon.
The emphatic win sees City five points clear at the top of the table.
