A-League ladder leader Melbourne extracted revenge for two home losses to the Central Coast with a classy 3-0 away win over the Mariners in Gosford on Saturday.
Two well-worked second-half goals from Carlos Hernandez and Matthew Kemp and an own goal from Mariners defender Nigel Boogaard, ensured Melbourne quickly regained top spot from Sydney, who briefly went top following their away win over Wellington earlier on Saturday.
It was the first home loss and biggest defeat of the season for the Mariners, who had previously conceded only three goals at Bluetongue Stadium.
Melbourne controlled most of the game apart from the last 15 minutes before half time.
The Victory had the game’s most influential players in Socceroo striker Archie Thompson and midfielders Matthew Kemp and Carlos Hernandez.
Kemp was involved in all three goals. Thompson released Kemp down the right in the 57th minute and his cross was swept home by Hernandez from near the penalty spot.
The home team missed a great chance to equalise in the 64th minute when Pedj Bojic’s close range shot struck a post.
That miss proved costly, as Melbourne secured the points seven minutes later, when the industrious Kemp rounded off another slick Victory move.
Kemp was involved again in the 77th minute, when his right-wing cross deflected off Nigel Boogard and past Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic.
Costa Rican playmaker Hernandez had a couple of first half shots, but Melbourne had nothing to show for their early dominance.
The Mariners enjoyed a strong last 15 minutes of the first half, with a Matthew Simon header forcing a fine reflex save from Victory goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak. Striker Adam Kwasnik forced Langerak into two more saves and midfielder Nicky Travis fired wide during the Mariners purple patch.
Melbourne suffered an injury blow with Thai import Surat Sukha stretchered off after 40 minutes, with what appeared to be a hamstring problem.
Victory coach Ernie Merrick rated the win Melbourne’s best away performance of the season, and was full of praise for Thompson, Kemp, Langerak, and fellow defenders Kevin Muscat and Adrian Leijer.
However, Merrick was far from happy with some of the offside calls against his team.
“We were keen to play an interpassing game and keep creating chances and get our fullbacks forward and we did it really well,” Merrick told reporters.
“Once we scored one, we knew they would have to open up. I was just disappointed by the continual offside decisions that go against us, because we might have been able to get them opened up even earlier.”
“I’m just disappointed that they just can’t get it right and that affects our scoring opportunities, it affects one-on-ones with the goalkeeper and it denies the crowd the opportunity to see good attacking football.”
Merrick expected to be without Sukha for four to six weeks because of a suspected grade two hamstring tear.
However, he said they would have Nicky Ward available after suspension next week and celebrated the efforts of Leigh Broxham and Matthew Foschini in the midfield area.
Mariners coach Lawrie McKenna couldn’t believe his side lost by such a convincing margin.
“Pej hit the post, that could have been the game turner, the momentum changing, but tonight it wasn’t to be,” McKinna said.
“We got beaten 3-0, but I still can’t believe we got beaten 3-0.
“They were clinical in our front third and we weren’t as clinical as them.”
McKinna believed the Mariners could still make the top two but admitted it would be hard and doubted he would make changes to his defence despite Saturday’s performance.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Joe Lolley was outstanding for the Sky Blues, scoring a brace as Sydney FC equaled their biggest ever victory.
Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
Central Coast Mariners' star striker Angel Torres has been stood down from playing in the A-League Men after he was charged with sexual assault. …
Mathew Leckie played a pivotal part in Melbourne City claiming an 8-nil win; playing a role in several of his team's goals.
The Mariners must deal with possibly their toughest challenge yet - Kyrgyzstan’s FK Abdysh-Ata Kant in the first leg of the semifinal.
The loser of the Sydney Derby will be under immense pressure entering the final three matches of the season.
