CITY’S HOT SCOT IN TIGHT SPOT
IF that was Ross McCormack’s final ALeague match in Australia, it was — almost — a hell of a way to go out.
Melbourne City’s Scottish striker, playing as a secondhalf substitute, latched onto Daniel Georgievski’s backpass in the final minute of stoppage time on Thursday night and looped the ball over Newcastle gloveman Jack Duncan.
With the score at 2-2, half of the City bench leaped into the air in celebration of a winner.
But then up popped Steven Ugarkovic.
The backtracking defender surged back from midfield to produce an acrobatic goal-line clearance to preserve the Jets’ point.
There was to be no 15th A-League goal for McCormack in what could be his last outing in Australia.
The forward is contracted to Aston Villa but is in Melbourne on an injury replacement loan deal for stricken forward Bruno Fornaroli.
Villa and City are currently negotiating a deal for him to continue on until season’s end, but have struck an impasse.
In a bad omen for his chances of extending his time at City, the 31-year-old stayed long after the final whistle signing autographs for the fans that have come to adore him through his super season.
Coach Warren Joyce said talks between City and Villa regarding McCormack’s future were ongoing and that the striker’s young family had remained in the UK, which had also complicated the situation.
“There are conversations between the two clubs and they need to speak to Ross as well ... then we’ll know what’s happening,’’ Joyce said.
It’s difficult to imagine City extending its run without McCormack, who has scored half of the club’s 28 goals, especially given Fornaroli isn’t expected back until March.
Joyce said the club was still sticking to plan A — retaining the Scot — given the difficulty of making new January signings.
“It’s something we’ll look at if it doesn’t happen,” he said. “It wasn’t easy to bring him in the first place and it’s not easy to bring players in at this time in a salary cap league.”
If he doesn’t sign, City can at least draw upon another January signing — Dario Vidosic.
The former Socceroo has grown in stature since his arrival at his fifth A-League club and after seeing him score his third goal in five days, Joyce said there was still life in his international career.