Melbourne Victory spoil the Mariners much talked about trip to North Sydney claiming a 3-0 win to keep them undefeated this season, the only remaining side to do this.
Despite a less than impressive performance from the Victory, a ten minute burst in the second half in which they picked up three quick goals, turned the game their way.
The Mariners had their moments and contained Victory well for the majority of the match, but never put consistent pressure on the Victory, who were conversely able to take their chances when they came.
The win cements the Victory in second place, one point behind leaders Perth Glory, while the loss leaves the Mariners out of the top six.
All in all a game that neither side will remember too fondly but Victory importantly able to pick up all three points and somehow three goals.
FINAL SCORE:
Melbourne 3
Central Coast 0
The Central Coast Mariners play host to undefeated Melbourne Victory this evening at their home away home, North Sydney Oval. Join us on The Roar from 7:30pm AEDT for live scores and coverage.
The Mariners have picked up just one win this season and look to be in trouble against the high flying Victory who sit pretty at second on the A-league ladder.
In what has been a turbulent week for the Mariners with their foundation coach and ambassador Lawrie McKinna resigning due to supposed disapproval at the clubs direction going forward, the Central Coast outfit will be looking for some stability on the pitch as they look to move up the ladder and into finals contention.
With just the one win thus far, coming on the opening round, the Mariners have looked anything but the Premiership winning club they were two seasons ago. Having sent import Malick Mane packing, allowing McClinchey to leave to the Phoenix and pushing South Korean Kim Seung-yong to the fringes, Central Coast have looked a shaky side this season.
In contrast, the Mariners welcome a confident and well-rounded Melbourne Victory side fresh off last Friday’s narrow win over in-form Adelaide United.
With a team full to the brim in quality players and headed by Kevin Muscat, it is going to take quite a lot to deliver Victory their first defeat of the season.
One potential worry they may have is that from their past two games, in which the Victory racked up four goals, three of them were own goals. With a robust attacking side, Victory should be delivering goals of their own accord. So can they get back to scoring goals on their own terms in this game?
Taking place at North Sydney Oval, this encounter reflects the Mariners desire to expand beyond the Central Coast, something the resigned Lawrie McKinna obviously wasn’t happy about. Struggling to fill Blue Tongue at the best of times, it will be interesting to see just how many fans turn out at North Sydney Oval.
More accustomed to hosting cricket matches, the oval has been under heavy scrutiny from Victory coach, Kevin Muscat who feels the pitch isn’t safe for a few of his injury prone stars, opting to rest both Guilherme Finkler and Scott Galloway stating,”Taking them to play on a cricket pitch is probably not the best idea.” Aside from these absentees, Jason Geria returns for the Victory and Nick Montgomery returns for the Mariners after serving suspension.
In what looks to be a tough match for the Mariners and a game the Victory are taking skeptically, expect a tight game with both sides desperate for all three points.
Join us on The Roar from 7:30pm AEST to find out who claims the spoils as the Central Coast Mariners host the Melbourne Victory.
jamesb
Guest
You didn't really have that much opposition. This is clearly the worst Mariners team ever to grace in the A-League. And its a shame.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Hope the bloke who predicted the comfortable 2-0 win to CCM put his life savings on that prognostication. Great win by the lads. Played 10 minutes of decent football & smashed 3 home. I'd have been happy with an win with an own goal. Another clean sheet, haven't dropped a point at home & only undefeated team after 9 matches.
pete4
Guest
Sums it up nicely... @MurrayShaw1 Simply North Sydney Oval isn't an adequate A-League venue at the moment. Cricket pitch, bad lighting, power issues and no atmosphere.
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
FULL-TIME Melbourne Victory spoil the Mariners much talked about trip to North Sydney claiming a 3-0 win to keep them undefeated this season, the only remaining side to do this. Despite a less than impressive performance from the Victory, a ten minute burst in the second half in which they picked up three quick goals, turned the game their way. The Mariners had their moments and contained Victory well for the majority of the match, but never put consistent pressure on the Victory goal, who were conversely able to take their chances when they came. The win cements the Victory in second place, one point behind leaders Perth Glory, while the loss leaves the Mariners out of the top six. All in all a game that neither side will remember too fondly but Victory importantly able to pick up all three points and somehow three goals. Final score Central Coast Mariners 0 - Melbourne Victory 3
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
90+3' Fitzgerald lashes a dangerous shot towards goal that hits the side netting. And with that, the ref blows full-time. Central Coast Mariners 0 Melbourne Victory 3
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
90+1' Victory win an injury time corner through Pain, taken rather lazily and Mariners clear the danger. Central Coast Mariners 0 Melbourne Victory 3
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
85' Mariners pick up a free-kick deep in Victory territory. Sim takes it short to Hutchinson whose shot is blocked for a corner that is ultimately cleared. Central Coast Mariners 0 Melbourne Victory 2
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
83' Official crowd figure of 7,098 here at North Sydney Oval tonight. Central Coast Mariners 0 Melbourne Victory 2
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
79' Victory win a corner and make a substitution with Makarounas coming on for Khalfallah. Central Coast Mariners 0 Melbourne Victory 2
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
75' Mariners win a corner through Storm Roux. Swung in well but a free-kick to Victory is called before anything comes of it. Central Coast Mariners 0 Melbourne Victory 2
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
GOAL Victory grab a third through substitute Connor Pain. Barbarouses delivers a perfect cross across goal from the right flank with Pain left to tap home from the far post. Central Coast Mariners 0 Melbourne Victory 3
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
70' Archie Thompson coming off for Conner Pain here for Melbourne Victory. Central Coast Mariners 0 Melbourne Victory 2
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
GOAL Victory score a stunner through Georgievski. The defender finds himself in open space, unleashes a shot well outside the box and gets the ball into the top right corner well out of the grasp of Mariners' keeper Reddy. Central Coast Mariners 0 Melbourne Victory 2
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
66' Khalfallah crosses well to Berisha who connects with a strong header. The ball however finds Reddy with ease. Central Coast Mariners 0 Melbourne Victory 1
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
63' Mariners almost respond immediately with Vernes supplied a wonderful cross clear on goal only for his volley to fly high. Central Coast Mariners 0 Melbourne Victory 1
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
GOAL Victory score through Berisha. Thomspon holds the ball up well outside the box, feeds through Berisha whose low shot across goal nestles into the far left corner. Berisha had gone three games without a goal. Central Coast Mariners 0 Melbourne Victory 1
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
58' Victory win a corner after a swift counter forces a mix-up between Mariners goalie Reddy and defender Anderson. Resulting corner is nearly poked home on the line by Thompson only for Reddy to punch it away on the line. Central Coast Mariners 0 Melbourne Victory 0
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
56' Substitution in the form of Duke for Simon for the Mariners. Central Coast Mariners 0 Melbourne Victory 0
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
55' Victory win a corner through Barbarouses who somehow manages to keep the ball in play. Central Coast Mariners 0 Melbourne Victory 0
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
53' Broxham feds Barbarouses on goal down the right for Victory but Barbarouses' flick back is too heavy with the Mariners able to clear the danger. Central Coast Mariners 0 Melbourne Victory 0