Bruno Fornaroli etched himself into A-League Men history on Sunday as he scored four goals for Melbourne Victory as they saw off the challenge of Newcastle Jets with a resounding 5-3 win at the AAMI Park. Bruno’s quad-trick made the veteran striker the third highest-scoring player in the league’s history, above players such as Archie Thompson, Shane Smeltz, Andy Keough, Adam Le Fondre and Alex Brosque and tailing only the likes of Besart Berisha and Jamie Maclaren.
Victory, who beat arch-rivals Sydney FC 2-0 on October 21st to kick-off their league campaign, were looking to make it two wins out of two as they host the Jets at the AAMI Park, however Mark Natta gave the guests an early lead in the 6th minute.
Natta’s goal served as a catalyst for both Victory and Fornaroli, with the latter proceeding to go on a rampage throughout the first half. The Uruguay-born Australia international equalized for Victory just two minutes after Natta’s goal, before he made it 2-1 for the Big V in the 31st minute.
Victory were then awarded a penalty in the 40th minute which Fornaroli dispatched magnificently, before he rounded off his quad-trick with sublime fashion in the third minute of stoppage-time. Adama Traore crossed the ball towards Fornaroli, which the 36-year old striker then finished off with a breathtaking rabona that went past Newcastle goalkeeper Ryan Scott.
Clayton John Taylor pulled one back for the Jets four minutes into the second half, however Nishan Vellupilay’s 55th minute effort pretty much sealed the game for Victory then and there, leaving Taylor’s second goal in the 74th minute as mere consolation.
Next up for Victory are Adelaide United, who had also made it two wins out of two with a 6-0 thrashing of defending premiers Melbourne City. The two sides will clash at the AAMI Park on November 4th.