Sydney FC boss Steve Corica hailed English forward Adam Le Fondre after his brace fired the Sky Blues to a 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar on Saturday evening.
Le Fondre extended his lead atop the Hyundai A-League scoring charts to three goals with a well-taken double in Kogarah as Sydney FC moved within goal difference of table-toppers Perth Glory.
And his efforts proved decisive after Adam Taggart’s 85th-minute penalty, which could have levelled proceedings, was saved by Sydney FC goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne.
REPORT: Sydney FC 2 Brisbane Roar 1
ANALYSIS: Le Fondre nudges further clear of Taggart in golden boot race
WATCH FOR FREE: How to watch the Hyundai A-League LIVE and FREE
Quizzed about his star import who has struck nine goals in 10 Hyundai A-League matches this season, Corica said: “He’s like a machine, really. He just keeps going, doesn’t he?”
“[He was] very good. Very good. For me, his work-rate is exceptional. He works defensively, he makes great forward runs and, of course, he scores goals.
“Two great goals again tonight and he’s enjoying his time here.
“He’s playing well, doing a great job for the team and scoring great goals.”
Le Fondre opened the scoring with a header before neatly tucking a left-foot finish into the bottom corner to restore Sydney FC’s advantage after Matt McKay had equalised.
And Corica praised his all-round play before suggesting Le Fondre could break a Hyundai A-League record set by Brazilian striker Bobo last season.
Bobo scored 27 goals in 28 matches last term for the Sky Blues - a mark that Le Fondre is on pace with.
“Knowing him, he wants to beat Bobo’s record, I would say,” Corica added.
“He obviously loves scoring goals and that’s his job. For me, most importantly he does the work for the team which he does do.
“And he keeps scoring. He’s enjoying scoring and the team [are] supplying him with goals as well so it’s great.
“I’m sure he’s looking for Bobo’s total towards the end of the season.
“He’s a poacher as well, he’s in the box, he’s making great runs down the sidelines, holds the ball up.
“He’s not that tall but he wins a lot of headers as well which is important for us.”
Corica also praised Redmayne’s “fantastic” late save and thought his players “were very good” and well and truly deserving of all three points.
“We played really well, we moved the ball quickly, we broke them down, we played through them,” he said.
“For me, the only disappointing thing - it wasn’t three [goals for Sydney FC] at half time because I think we deserved it at half time. We outplayed them.
“We just need to finish teams off and not let them back into the game.”
