Nothing but pride at stake for both of these teams as the Central Coast Mariners host the Melbourne Heart at Bluetongue Stadium this afternoon. We’ll have live scores and minute-by-minute updates from 5.30pm AEDT.
The Wanderers clinched the Premiership on Good Friday with an easy win away to Newcastle, and so the only team with anything to challenge for here is the Heart who can guarantee they won’t get the wooden spoon with a victory.
Anything else and they’d be relying on Wellington losing against the Victory on Sunday.
We should see a few changes from Graham Arnold as he looks to make sure that his stars are all fit heading into the finals.
That said, he may give them game time here as they’ll already have next week off in the new and somewhat controversial finals system.
The Heart’s season has been derailed in recent weeks, and while a finals spot looked a strong chance just a few weeks ago, the team is now just looking to avoid coming last.
It will be the last game at the club for several players, and I’m sure there’s a few more who know this is their last chance to impress and try to earn a contract for future seasons.
So the stakes could be higher in this one, but it will still make for an interesting contest. Join us from 5.30pm AEDT for all the action.
Garcia
Guest
Or for JA to continue to blame everything but his team and tactics
Stevo
Guest
The pain is over. Plenty of time for a complete overhaul by JA.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Well, a spirited showing from the ten men of Melbourne Heart, especially with manager John Aloisi being sent to the stands. The red card was a huge talking point on twitter since the incident but I really don't know why. A clear red once the handball has been given - which it was, rightly so. Mariners denied a goal by the touch, whether he did it on purpose or not. So it's back to the drawing board for the Heart as they look ahead to next season, and have to hope bitter rivals Victory can get a win against the Phoenix tomorrow to send the spoon across the ditch. The Mariners however, have both ACL and finals games to look forward to in the coming weeks. These two squads are world's away. Our next game is later tonight with every Sydney fan sweating the mighty Adelaide United as hopefully, they can get a win to deny Perth a finals berth. Join us then. Feel free to drop me a line on twitter @TheMattBungard with any thoughts on today's match! Thanks for tuning in.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
FULL TIME CENTRAL COAST MARINERS 2 MELBOURNE HEART 1
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Three minutes of added time,...
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
90th min, CCM 2-1: Great save from Bolton to deny Pellegrino!! It was drilled low at the bottom left corner and Bolton dove full stretch to claw it away
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
89th min, CCM 2-1: Duke flashes another one wide! Can the Heart get a chance to equaalise in the closing stages?
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
88th min, CCM 2-1: Griffiths comes off, Youngster Hayden Morton comes on. Colosimo is off for the Heart with Babalj coming on
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
86th min, CCM 2-1: Anderson goes into the book after he kicks the ball away.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
85th min, CCM 2-1: McDonald at the far post but he can't finish!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
84th min, CCM 2-1: Neat ball from Sterjovski but McBreen puts it just wide!!
Paul McLennan
Roar Rookie
Interesting GArnold hasn't mentioned the Premier's Plate being the rightful champion lately...
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
83rd min, CCM 2-1 Duke chips it to the back post and Coyne has to put it behind for a corner!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Bojic again... It's driven near post and Bolton saves again!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
81st min, CCM 2-1: Pellegrino is pulled down just in front of the D by Matt Thompson, who is booked.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
77th min, CCM 2-1 Chance for Duke to put the game away!! A harmless looking pass into the area isn't cleared and falls straight to his feet, but he snatched at the finish and it's well wide.
Stevo
Guest
Yeahhhhhhhhhhh
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
75th min, CCM 2-1: Bozanic chips one to the backpost and Sterjovski's acrobatic effort is well saved by Bolton.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Anderson was caught dallying on the ball, Macallister took it away from him and did well to draw Pasfield before squaring it to Garcia to poke into the far corner!! That was really out of nothing but at least it makes for an interesting end to this one!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
73rd min GARCIA PUTS ONE IN FOR THE HEART!!!