Robbie, Melbourne run riot
A first-half Robbie Kruse hat-trick has seen Melbourne return to form in emphatic fashion as the defending champions sent a huge warning out to their rivals with a 6-2 win over Perth Glory at Etihad Stadium.
In a game which featured the second most amount of goals in any Hyundai A-League match, Kruse joined Archie Thompson as the only players to have scored a hat-trick for Melbourne.
More importantly for Melbourne, which was coming off two consecutive losses, it moves back within a point of Sydney in the battle for the Premiers' Plate with the Sky Blues to meet third-placed Gold Coast on Sunday.
Thompson started the rot in just the fourth minute, before Kruse netted in the 12th, 26th and 39th, while Rody Vargas put one in his own net on 20 minutes. Kevin Muscat and Carlos Hernandez added goals late in the game to complete the rout.
After a lacklustre first-half in which both sides were locked 0-0, two goals in five minutes early in the second gave the Newcastle Jets a 2-0 win over Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.
Jets Skipper Matthew Thompson opened up the scoring for the away side five minutes in the second breaking the off-side trap to slot home. Thompson was involved five mintues later when his pressure forced Matt Mckay to handle in the area, Michael Bridges stepping up to the nail the resulting spot-kick.
Sydney FC has defeated Gold Coast United 3-1 in a keenly fought National Youth League encounter at Cromer Park in Sydney.