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Tim Cahill has dared A-League opponents to write off Melbourne City for the title.
The odds are stacked against City, who face Perth on Sunday night in an elimination final for a place in the final four.
They have beaten top-six opposition just twice all season, the last being three months ago — a 1-0 win over Western Sydney.
And City have losing form against the Glory — the latest of two losses this season coming last Sunday in a madcap 5-4 loss in Western Australia.
Despite the ominous record, Cahill and City are revelling in their role as championship spoilers, and the 37-year-old said the tag of underdog sat very comfortably with him as he began his first A-League finals series.
- Brisbane Roar v Western Sydney Wanderers — Friday, April 21, 7:50pm AEST @ Lang Park
- Melbourne City v Perth Glory — Sunday, April 23, 7:00pm AEST @ AAMI Park
"I've been written off my whole life," he said.
"I wasn't supposed to play at the last World Cup, I wasn't supposed to play at the Asian Cup. And I wasn't supposed to do well in the A-League either because I'm too old and I'm 37.
"I like it like this. We know what's on the line, it's good to be the underdog for once in the finals and not be expected to win this weekend or even the grand final.
"I can guarantee not many clubs will want us to beat Perth because that means they have to play us.
"In one-off finals against us, they'll much prefer to play someone else."
Cahill says his record of 13 goals in 25 appearances, including the winner in the FFA Cup final, is evidence of a successful first season — and a reason for other teams to be fearful.
"In all the big games this year, I've shown up — in all the big games when it's counted," he said.
"That's pretty much what's happened my whole career."
The 5-4 loss was one of the craziest results in the A-League's history and Cahill said he'd "never played in a game like it ever" over his 20-year career.
He expects a very different match this weekend.
"It will be very interesting to see the way Perth play ... I don't think Kenny Lowe will ever set up again and be that brave," he said.
"He said he was going to come (to Melbourne) and test us out. We were happy to be tested and happy to react (in Perth)."
AAP
Topics: a-league, soccer, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia