Don’t you just love it when your modest expectations are exceeded. That was the feeling tens of thousands of A-League fans experienced when they tuned in to watch an under pressure Melbourne Victory take on the seemingly depleted Central Coast Mariners last night at AAMI Park.
Melbourne Victory supporters went into the match feeling underwhelmed and as a result only fourteen thousand turned up to watch after their team back up after last week’s mediocre performance in the Melbourne derby.
Fox Sports football presenter Adam Peacock captured the indifference zeitgeist when tweeting from a head wetting drinks session in Manly.
“Awesome that the karzi hole of a pub I’m in isnt showing the @aleague – lucky it seems like a boring game.”
At the end of the match I responded to Adam.
“You just missed one of the best games of the season. No bullshit.”
The game had everything. Two teams intent on playing positive attractive football, three spectacular goals, chances galore and the almost inevitable refereeing controversy with Peter Green harshly sending off the Mariner’s Trent Sainsbury in the second half.
I am going to focus on two important factors which helped turned the game into such a great showpiece for the A-League.
Young Tomas Rogic for the Mariners and the introduction of a brand spanking new midfield pairing for Victory of Mark Milligan and Jimmy Jeggo.
The elevated tone of the match was set as early as the ninth minute when 19 year old Rogic collected a pass from just beyond the half-way line, glided past the Victory debutant Ubay Luzardo and expertly found space outside the box to beat Victory’s stalwart keeper Ante Covic with precision.
Poor Luzardo, who just spent three years in Hong Kong, must have thought he was playing in La Liga and not the A-League as Rogic made a good fist of impersonating Zinedine Zidane with his precocious poise and brilliance.
And just to prove it wasn’t a fluke, Rogic went close to scoring what would arguably have been goal of the season later in the half when he hustled Jeggo off the ball, ran at a pace towards a retreating defence and audaciously chipped the ball just inches wide of the post.
The desperate necessity for results finally saw Victory manager Jim Magilton ring the changes in midfield. Out went the moribund midfield of Grant Brebner (suspension) and Leigh Broxham (form) and in came Jeggo from the youth team and Milligan who was pushed up from the last line.
And what a diferrence they made.
For the first time in Magilton’s reign we witnessed a midfield with the requisite dynamism and ability to try and play a passing game. Victory fans could not believe theirs eyes.
Jeggo’s meritorious performance was capped off when he beat Rogic for a header to set up Harry Kewell for his expertly taken winner in 51st minute.
Of course, it would be remiss of me not to mention the tremendous thunderbolt from Carlos Hernandez which leveled the scores early in the first half. The recently out of favour Costa Rican was back to his old tricks and with his new supporting midfield cast he is pivotal to Victory’s hopes of belatedly resurrecting their season.
A few weeks ago I wrote on how difficult it was going to be for the Mariners sustain their form all the way to the Grand Final. They have now suffered two losses on the bounce.
However, all is not lost, if Rogic keeps improving, their replacement for Matt Simon, John Sutton, starts firing and their Olyroos, Ryan, Amini & Bozanic returning, it should give them the confidence to not only win the premiership, but also give the title a shake.
As for Melbourne Victory, their fans walked out of AAMI Park last night rejuvenated.
With a finals berth re-appearing on their radar, they could not escape the feeling that, maybe, just maybe, their season had all of a sudden just started again.
One thing I know for sure, most matches played in the EPL this weekend will not be as entertaining as the game we witnessed last night.
A sure sign that the A-League is heading in the right direction.
Athas Zafiris is on Twitter @ArtSapphire
jmac
Guest
I think it's fair to say CCM have had a great run with injuries since arnie arrived. it was always going to be a test of their depth and system of play, if lots of absences came at once. it's one of those things a championship side needs to find a way around. if they hold on to win this year they will be fully deserving of the title, then.
Bondy
Guest
Curious. Nothing wrong with alternative options in sport, but I would suggest that moving The Mariners to as you say of one of two venues "Homebush" would not make a great deal of sense with the greatest of respect Homebush holds what 60,000 no sporting team in N.S.W could fill that let alone an A League club moved from the Central Coast . The Central Coast Mariners get great local media coverage print and tele, where if they moved to western sydney they'd be dwarfed by N.R.L. There aren't that many sports teams in N.S.W. let alone an A League club thats not in some form of financial distress or concern. Also the Central Coast Mariners pull crowds of around 10 k which is very comparable to two to three N.R.L. clubs .I think we will die on our feet than live on our knees (as the saying goes) but you've raised some valid points . King Henry in the 85th minute wins it for the Gunners in his last game for the club, scripts can be written in football , hail the king .
Axelv
Guest
Australian.
Curious
Guest
All the talk of the Mariners being in dire financial straits leads me to think that they might be the biggest bargain of all time. Why? I am thinking that with all those supporters in Western Sydney, buy the club and move it to Homebush or Parramatta. Perhaps, even keep the “club” on the Central Coast but move the “home” game to a larger venue (with a better surface). I am sure that you would get a large crowd. Would there be something preventing this being achieved?
agga78
Guest
Melbourne Victory have the best supporters in Australian sport and by a country mile, the atmosphere last night was unbelievable as it is every time Victory play at AAMI park, Victory the team have been terrible this year, the Victory supporters have raised the level again this season, at one point last night not only both ends were singing but most of the stadium. 14k people sounding like 50k no club in Australian sport can generate an atmosphere like Victory and that includes 60k Collingwood supporters.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
peter care It should be "Peter", not "peter", and any decent dictionary will inform you that "defense" is an appropriate version of the word.
peter care
Guest
Fussball, it's defence not defense.
Simmo
Guest
Chianese?
peter care
Guest
I think you are wrong about Melbourne having the strongest squad. Sure their top 5 or 6 are good, but it drops away very quickly. They are full of duds such as Broxham, Brebner, Pondeljak, Kemp, Allsop and Cernak. What's more their youth team is at the bottom of the table. This squad lacks depth and cannot win the title. Having said that they were much better last night and It took only 5 minutes to realise their structure and shape had improved from previous weeks. Perhaps it's taken 6 weeks for Magilton to understand his players strengths and weaknesses.
Roarchild
Guest
Haha Pete #205 For me that's the funniest thing I have read today. Hinds piece in the SMH though Rugby League themed is a good laugh too. Great entertainment last night and loved seeing Hernandez back in form No losers really as the Mariners had a lot of players out so shouldn't be too down. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Yes, RB is an issue. Of course, in my glory days, my position in the team was No. 2 (and, no that's not b/c of the obvious reason you're thinking ;-) ) and, if Mr Magilton gave me a call, I'd be willing to bring out the old boots (although, the MVFC salary cap constraints may be the only impediment to my return to formal football!). More seriously, I'd like to see Cernak tried in this position - I see a lot in his game that would transfer well to the RWB role.
Midfielder
Guest
Now if you play with that imagine a bit ..... you can get a totally different view... http://i44.tinypic.com/21kccnc.jpg
Midfielder
Guest
Just on the red ... the eyes of Trent speak volumes for his opinion... http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh7/recky62/yourfknkidding.jpg
Bondy
Guest
jamesb. I'd seen a half decent young kid get a run for Sydney F.C. last week, I cant remember he's name though he was about 19 yr old and played the left chanel or flank quite well .
Bondy
Guest
Roger. A deserved win last night, unfortunately their will always be one or two idiots spoiling it for others at any sporting event or major function .
Thanks for the encouragement - Fuss. Another great game coming up next week. Right back is the big concern for mvfc. No depth in that position.
jamesb
Guest
good to see young players coming through. Last week Craig Goodwin for Melbourne Heart, this week Tomas Rogic for the mariners.
Pete #205
Guest
Steady on. Like many Australian players with imagination, fantasy and individual brilliance, he's a Canberran :)
Roger
Guest
All the same, I'm glad you weren't one of those mariners fans I met ;)
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Sorry, mid, have to disagree on the card, was a good call and I'd have handed out the same. Sainsbury let himself and his team down with that challenge.