One side wants to continue their fairytale recovery, the other wants to keep their trophy. Melbourne Heart host the Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park today. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 2:00pm AEDT.
In their previous match-up 11 rounds ago, these teams played out a 0-0 draw in Gosford – a result which extended Heart’s winless streak to 18 games.
In the following round, Heart lost 3-0 to Perth and were officially the joke of Australian football by equalling the A-League record of 19 games without a win.
That was ten rounds ago, and a lot can change in ten rounds of football.
Since then, Melbourne Heart have become the A-League’s richest club through Manchester City’s takeover and have lifted themselves off the bottom of the ladder, with only one loss in their last nine games.
Interim coach John Van’t Schip was rewarded for this great mid-season turnaround with a three-year contract this week but he was too focused on this match to celebrate.
His team have dared to dream of finals football, which was why last week’s 2-2 draw with ten-man Wellington Phoenix was such a disappointment.
Heart need a win, anything less and their finals hopes are over. Expect key players David Williams and Orlando Engelaar to be at their best for the Heart in this vital clash, while Harry Kewell could impact off the bench.
But do not expect the Central Coast Mariners to let the Heart win this one for the sake of a sporting fairy tale. They will be challenging for the three points to protect their own finals spot and maintain their hopes of retaining the championship.
But it will be difficult for the Mariners considering their busy schedule of Asian Champions League matches and their lack of squad depth.
The Mariners return from a tough midweek clash in Beijing, where they were unfortunate to lose 2-1 to Beijing Guoan in front of a hostile Chinese crowd of over 30,000.
Tensions boiled over in that game just before halftime, when both teams engaged in a bit of push-and-shove and Mariners defender Eddy Bosnar was right in the thick of it.
Expect Bosnar to also be in the thick of today’s game, with his strong tackling and thunderous free kicks – one of which he scored from halfway in the first 42 seconds of the Mariners’ 3-1 win over Newcastle in the F3 derby last week.
The Heart will be all out for the win to keep their faint finals hopes, alive while the Mariners are out to break hearts.
Definitely a must-watch.
Prediction: Heart 2 Mariners 0.
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 2:00pm AEDT.
Stevo
Guest
Gotta hand it to CCM, when the game was there to be won they slotted in the goals. Unlike HeartFC who had chances, apart from Orlando's wonder strike, to put a few in the back of the net and failed - again. We need a quality striker ASAP to start games and Willo coming off the pines for a late minute injection of pace, some sprayed shots into the stands and maybe the odd goal now and again LOL.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Can we rename this the Relocation Derby?
AZ_RBB
Guest
OK so.......this means Heart should relocate now right?
striker1
Guest
Despite all, the champions are still there in the top 6 and getting better. Love to see all the young guns on the pitch at the same time. Dukey, Birnie, Fitzy and Caceres dominated the last 20 mins of the ga,e. Caceres is pure class.
Midfielder
Guest
GR888888888888888888
Cameron
Roar Guru
Despite EVERYTHING the Mariners are put through or go through, they ALWAYS show everyone what it, takes to be a good football club!
Dominic Beattie
Roar Pro
The match is over, along with Heart's finals aspirations which are all but out of reach (barring a miracle of sorts.) Heart took the lead with what looks like the goal of the year through Engelaar but were punished through efficient counter-attacks by the Mariners. The Mariners are performing admirably considering their heavy schedule, and now find themselves even on points with Melbourne Victory who are in second place on the ladder. Thanks for joining me here at The Roar. Hope you enjoyed the coverage. Heart 1 Mariners 2
Dominic Beattie
Roar Pro
FULL TIME
Dominic Beattie
Roar Pro
94' Heart win a corner at the death but Mauk heads over.
Dominic Beattie
Roar Pro
93' Some time wasting by Reddy as he takes a goal kick. Heart 1 Mariners 2
Dominic Beattie
Roar Pro
91' Long ball up the pitch is headed into the path of Mauk who hits a shot with no conviction just outside the box. It goes wide of Reddy's goal. Heart 1 Mariners 2
Dominic Beattie
Roar Pro
91' Three minutes of added time. Heart 1 Mariners 2
Dominic Beattie
Roar Pro
89' Great dribble though the middle by Fitzgerald as the Heart defenders backed off him until he reached the edge of the box. His shot is blocked. Heart 1 Mariners 2
Dominic Beattie
Roar Pro
87' CHANCE HEART! The ball found its way to Williams on the left side of the box who cuts the ball inside for Mauk to blast over the bar. Heart 1 Mariners 2
Cameron
Roar Guru
The Mariners are surely tired, but they're showing what they've learned so far from participation in the ACL. Great work boys!
Dominic Beattie
Roar Pro
86' Duke skews a shot from outside the box way over the bar for the Mariners. Heart appear to have given up. Heart 1 Mariners 2
Dominic Beattie
Roar Pro
84' Redmayne flies off his line to dive at the feet of Duke. Good goalkeeping. Heart 1 Mariners 2
Dominic Beattie
Roar Pro
83' CHANCE MARINERS! Caceres played a beautiful ball through the middle to send Fitzgerald clear on goal but his shot is blocked by Redmayne and his follow up dribbles wide of the goal. Great chance to wrap this game up. Heart 1 Mariners 2
Dominic Beattie
Roar Pro
82' Caceres and Ibini link up well to send Ibini clear down the right wing but his cross is cleared. Heart 1 Mariners 2
Dominic Beattie
Roar Pro
80' SUBSTITUTION HEART. Germano comes off for Mauk. Heart 1 Mariners 2