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It doesn’t get much bigger than this – a Sunday afternoon kick-off between the Central Coast Mariners and the Melbourne Victory for a spot in the Grand Final. Join us for all the action from Bluetongue Stadium just before a 5.00pm AEST kick-off.
The Mariners’ last outing was a disappointing capitulation against Guizhou Renhe in the AFC Champions League, which continues to be a graveyard for all Aussie teams not named Adelaide United.
Conversely, it was the Victory who had to dig deep and come from behind in a game that Perth Glory will still be wondering how they lost, a week later.
After a late penalty miss by Shane Smeltz, the Victory marched down the field and won a spot kick of their own – which was thumped home by Mark Milligan.
It was the mercurial Archie Thompson who finished it off in extra time, ensuring there’d be no grand final replay of 2012.
Not that there now could have been any way, with the Roar being bundled out by the Western Sydney Wanderers.
And indeed, it’s a 4.00pm kick-off at Allianz Stadium with a shiny toilet seat on the line that awaits the winner of this one.
As a Sydney fan, the thought of the Wanderers playing the Victory for the title at our home ground fills me sadness.
But this season isn’t about Sydney – it’s been about their neighbours to the West, the North and their arch-rivals from Victoria, all three being the three best teams all year long.
The Victory are two-time champs, a feeling that Mariners fans have flirted with so many times, only to end up disappointed. I’m sure no fan of Yellow inclination needs me to remind them of their history of playoff disappointment.
But who wins this one? The clubs traded draws in the first two meetings this season, before the Mariners absolutely slaughtered their visitors back in February in Gosford, by a score of 6-2.
I’m sure that paddling is firmly in the minds of the Victory players and coach Ange Postecoglou, but it matters for little here.
Despite all the injuries and setbacks they’ve faced, they’re still just 90 (or 120 perhaps?) minutes away from their fourth grand final appearance.
And with the way Nathan Coe is playing lately coupled with the Central Coast’s horrendous record from the spot, I’m sure the Mariners will be dreading the occasion if it goes to penalties.
Join us live from 5.00pm AEST for all the team news, formations and updates.
[roargal]
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