Mooy masterclass as City breeze past Glory

Melbourne City and Australia midfielder Aaron Mooy produced a near faultless performance as his side thrashed 10-man Perth Glory 5-1 on Friday night at AAMI Stadium.

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Mooy scored from the spot, had a hand in each of City's other four goals, and looked a class above throughout the round eight A-League contest.

Glory, who hadn't registered an A-League goal for 288 minutes and 33 days leading into the clash, finished with 10 men after Aryn Williams was given his marching orders in 82nd minute for a second bookable offence.

City ensured Kenny Lowe's men would be in for a long night, needing just over five minutes to open their account and, as usual, Mooy was the orchestrator.

The 25 year-old's perfect free-kick was met by Erik Paartalu, who outleapt Glory captain Richard Garcia and his thumping header glanced off Glory defender Anthony Golec, before finding its way into the back of the net.

But Mooy wasn't finished there, and in the 19th minute the Socceroos midfielder beat several Glory defenders in the box before laying on a perfect cross for Connor Chapman.

Chapman made no mistake with his header, with Garcia beaten in the air again, to extend the hosts' lead to 2-0, as it continued to look ominous for Glory.

John van 't Schip's side smelt blood in the water and they extended their lead on 35 minutes to 3-0 through Bruno Fornaroli, on the back of some brilliant counter-attacking football.

Once again it was Mooy, who produced a sublime long-ball for Corey Gameiro, who cut it back for Fornaroli and the Uruguayan's left-footed finish easily beat peppered Glory goalkeeper Ante Covic.

In the shadows of half-game, Garcia thought he had pulled one back for the visitors but it was ruled out due to interference from Michael Twaite, who was in an offside position.

Fortunately for Glory they only had to wait just one minute later to break their goalscoring drought, as Sidnei Sciola's free-header cut the home side's lead to 3-1, in the final play of the first-half.

But the excitement was short lived for Kenny Lowe's men, as City extended their lead in the 53rd minute through Harry Novillo.

After a Mooy corner, the ball fell to Novillo on the edge of the box and the 23 year-old produced a beautiful half-volley finish to make it 4-1 for the home side.

And things only got worse for Perth, with Williams's late dismissal and Mooy stepping up from the spot to score and cap off a superb night on a personal note, and move City up to fifth spot on the A-League ladder.

Melbourne City 5 (Paartalu 6', Chapman 19', Fornaroli 35', Novillo 53', Mooy 82')
Perth Glory 1 (Morales 45+1')

AAMI Park, Melbourne