Melbourne Victory coach Ernie Merrick said his team wouldn't make this year's Hyundai A-League finals despite vaulting back into contention with an impressive 5-2 win over the Central Coast Mariners in the round 18 clash at Bluetongue Stadium on New Year's Eve.
It was the Victory of old with strikers Daniel Allsopp and Archie Thompson putting in a dazzling display up front and picking up three goals between them, with Adrian Caceres and Kevin Muscat also getting on the scorer's sheet to notch Melbourne's first win since round nine.
The three-goal win puts the Victory just five points off fourth place with three rounds of the regular season left to play, and although it still has a mathematical chance of qualifying for the finals, Merrick said it was too late for Melbourne to consider defending its Hyundai A-League title.
"It was great to see it all come together and to score five goals but I think it is a bit too late. I don't think we are going to make the finals," Merrick said after the match.
"I think it is important for us to make it difficult for teams to get into the finals and for us to build up some momentum for the Asian Champions League and to back up that performance next week, but I think it is a bit late for us to make the finals to be honest."
Merrick said the combination of the fit team and the re-focusing on Melbourne's upcoming participation in the Asian Champions League was the catalyst for the upset victory.
"I have said all year we have had trouble getting our best team out," he said. "The more experience of playing together the better we are, but we have just had so many changes because of injuries."
"Leigh (Broxham) is working well with our new signing Nick Ward and the last two weeks Danny Allsopp has had a hamstring and Archie (Thompson) was in doubt and suddenly they are both right and they have played together like they did last year."
"The finishing was very good and it was good to see Danny getting two and Archie scoring and Kevin (Muscat) getting a penalty kick - it has been a while since he had one."
"It is an ideal preparation for us for the Asian Champions League to play better teams - it brings the best out in us."
Merrick also reserved a special congratulation for the Mariners, despite handing the Central Coast team a three-goal beating, and said they were still the favourites to take out this year's title.
"I have to congratulate the Mariners on a great year and I think they are a good chance on taking out the premiership and sometimes when you cop five goals, like we did last year against Newcastle, it spurs you on to better things."