Archie Thompson’s 50th Hyundai A-League goal could prove to be one of his most significant, with the striker revealing after he opened his season’s account against Wellington that his form and fitness is close to its peak.
Archie Thompson’s 50th Hyundai A-League goal could prove to be one of his most significant, with the striker revealing after he opened his season’s account against Wellington that his form and fitness is close to its peak.
Thompson has played four games since his return from long-term injury, but until Saturday, where he scored his team’s first goal in a 2-2 draw at Westpac Stadium, had yet to trouble the scorers.
But his 19th-minute effort could prove a crucial point of his recovery with the Hyundai A-League’s greatest scorer gaining an enormous confidence boost from his classy finish.
“The more I play the more confident I feel,” Thompson said. “Obviously it was disappointing we couldn’t get the three points but it was good to get on the score sheet.”
“Now I’ve scored a goal I hopefully can get on a run. It’s good just to be back again and playing the football we have been playing the last couple of weeks.”
Importantly from the team’s perspective, the match also featured a goal from Thompson’s strike partner Robbie Kruse, with that partnership set to play a huge role in Victory’s prospects of playing a part in the championship fight.
Thompson helped set up that goal and said afterwards that he was rapt that Kruse was able to finish it off.
“Being part of that second goal and watching how it unfolded … usually we can play that football but not have the end product,” Thompson said.
“To finally do that, the confidence will keep building within the team and hopefully we can carry on from there.”
Melbourne will be without Adrian Leijer for next Friday’s clash with Brisbane Roar after the defender collected his fifth yellow card of the season, while Grant Brebner was nursing an injured leg.
Surat Sukha and Matthew Kemp will play for the youth team on Sunday and are likely to come into contention for the game against the Roar.
