Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Player of the Year 2007 winner Shane Smeltz reaffirmed his reputation as the leading marksmen amongst his peers after scoring a brace for his club in the Hyundai A-League at the weekend.
Smeltz has cut a swathe through defences at club and international level over the past two seasons and the German-born striker was in potent form as his club defeated Newcastle Jets 3-0 at Westpac Trust Stadium in Wellington.
Fellow New Zealand international Leo Bertos opened the scoring on 62 minutes with Smeltz doubling Wellington Phoenix lead five minutes later when his audacious lob beat Jets goalkeeper Ante Covic. Smeltz completed his double from the penalty spot six minutes from time after team-mate Troy Hearsfield was bundled down in the box by James Virgili.
The win propels Wellington Phoenix firmly into play-off contention in the Hyundai A-League with Smeltz goal tally for the season now 11 strikes. Smeltz has now scored twenty one goals for the Wellington Phoenix in the Hyundai A-League since his move from English non-league club AFC Wimbledon in 2007.
Smeltz scored eight goals in six matches for New Zealand as the All Whites won the 2008 OFC Nations Cup thus qualifying for both the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009 and a 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Qualification play-off with the fifth placed team in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) scheduled for later this year. New Zealand will face Iraq, Spain and host nation South Africa at the FIFA Confederations Cup in June 2009.
Wellington Phoenix stand on the threshold of becoming the first New Zealand-based club to qualify for the play-offs in either the Hyundai A-League or now defunct National Soccer League (NSL).
Smeltz will sign for Gold Coast United on a three year deal at the conclusion of the 2008/09 Hyundai A-League season.
Photograph courtesy www.nzfootball.co.nz