Melbourne United produces a statement win in Perth

Melbourne United went into RAC Arena on Thursday night and sent a message to the rest of league with an impressive wire-to-wire road win over the Perth Wildcats.

Chris Goulding silenced the Perth crowd with a superstar performance and United had all the answers in the top of the table clash.

It was the Chris Goulding Show early as the sharp-shooter was irresistible in the opening minutes of the game.

Mitch McCarron drained his first triple attempt to get United on the scoreboard and then Goulding connected on three long-range shots in one and a half minutes to have Melbourne up by five points, 12-7, after three and a half minutes of play.

McCarron scored two quick layups shortly after and all of sudden, United boasted a 16-7 lead, forcing Trevor Gleeson to call a time-out.

McCarron’s defence was suffocating, while Yudai Baba came into the game and gave Melbourne another lift with five quick points. When Jock Landale hit United’s sixth triple from seven attempts for the quarter, Melbourne’s lead had ballooned out to 15 points, 24-9, after six and a half minutes of play.

Perth, as they always do, mounted a comeback that was led by Bryce Cotton and John Mooney. Cotton’s buzzer-beater triple cut Melbourne’s quarter time lead to seven points, 28-21.

After a scintillating first term, Goulding nailed a heavily contested long two to get the scoreboard going for United, but the Wildcats owned the momentum early in the second quarter and when Landale was called for his third foul after three minutes of play, he sat for the remainder of the half.

David Barlow and Scotty Hopson connected on triples, but when Cotton grabbed a steal and finished in transition, scores were level, 38-38, with three minutes to play in the half.

Goulding and Mooney traded triples late and at the main break, United was holding onto a five-point lead, 51-46. Goulding (14 points) and McCarron (9 points and 3 rebounds) led United, while Cotton (16 points) and Mooney (14 points and 5 rebounds) kept the Wildcats within touch.

After shooting 10/16 from deep in the first half, United continued to shoot it well from the outside early in the third term as McCarron and Sam McDaniel connected from long range. Playing with three fouls, Landale was strong on both ends of the court and made an improbable pass from McCarron in the paint work for an and-1 play.

Goulding found his range again midway through the term with a triple and then drained two free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt to give United an 11-point lead, 70-59. Perth responded once again and a Kevin White triple capped off a 7-0 run for the Wildcats to trim the deficit to just four points.

Buckets to Goulding, Baba and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. late in the term helped United to an eight-point lead, 76-68, with a quarter to play.

Hopson rose to the occasion to open the fourth quarter in an important stretch for United. He scored a bucket on the first possession of the term and then connected on a triple after three minutes of play to have Melbourne back up by double digits, 83-72.

Cotton and Mitch Norton hit shots to keep Perth in the game, but a massive McCarron steal off an inbound pass which he took the length of the floor for a layup was vital.

With United leading by seven points with 100 seconds remaining in the game, Goulding stepped to the fore and drew an offensive foul as Blanchfield drove uncontrolled to the basket. After doing the job defensively, Goulding delivered a dagger three-pointer on the other end to give Melbourne a 10-point lead, 94-84.

Landale made an and-1 play in the final minute to put an exclamation mark on what was a statement win by United. Melbourne claimed the impressive road win, 99-91, posting a new franchise record score at RAC Arena.

Goulding put on a show in the west as he came out strong and never stopped delivering game-changing plays to finish with a game-high 26 points (six triples), 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

Landale (19 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists) and McCarron (14 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks) were superb on both ends, while Baba (11 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals) and Hopson (8 points and 4 rebounds) produced in key moments.

Mooney (24 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists) and Cotton (24 points and 3 assists) tried their best but couldn’t get Perth over the line.

The win sends a message to the rest of the league and United now sits three wins clear of the Wildcats for top spot on the ladder with a 23-6 record.

Next up for Melbourne is another blockbuster Throwdown clash with South East Melbourne on Sunday at John Cain Arena. Tip off is at 3pm.

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