Melbourne City
1
Match Complete
Central Coast Mariners
6
| 92' |  | M. C. M. Rodrigues | ||
| 91' |  | M. C. M. Rodrigues | ||
| 89' | | M. T. O. Lemos | ||
| 83' | | B. Nkololo | ||
| M. Tilio | | 79' | ||
| 73' | | J. Cummings | ||
| 65' | | J. Cummings | ||
| 51' | | N. Triantis | ||
| N. M. P. Reis | | 45' | ||
| R. V. D. Venne | | 40' | ||
| 34' | | S. Silvera | ||
| 20' | | J. Cummings |
| 18 | Shots | 12 | ||
| 3 | On Target | 8 | ||
| 15 | Fouls | 9 | ||
| 4 | Corners | 2 | ||
| 0 | Offsides | 2 | ||
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 | ||
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 3 |
A dramatic season concludes when Premier’s Plate winners Melbourne City meet the Central Coast Mariners in the A-League grand final. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:45pm (AEST).
After another astonishing and brilliant season of A-League football, the two remaining teams will do battle in Sydney for the right to hold aloft the world’s most famous toilet seat.
Melbourne City lost on just three occasions throughout the home and away season, scored 61 goals and allowed just 32 to slip into their own net. The nearest team to them in terms of goal difference and attacking potency was the Mariners, with 55 successful strikes of their own and just 35 conceded. Those numbers make the two teams the class of the field in the race for the championship.
With four years of dominant football behind them and a reputation as the most consistent team in Australia, Melbourne City will enter the contest as favourites; but a loss would leave them with just one title to their name in that time, with the shock loss to Western United last season giving the Mariners belief in an upset.
City have the ability to lose on the big stage, despite possessing all the credentials that should see them primed and ready on the one day that really matters. The gritty Mariners will be looking to expose exactly what John Aloisi’s team did in last season’s decider, by jumping the men in sky blue with a frantic press that ruffles a team prone to hesitancy when placed under enormous pressure.
Should the Mariners cope with the occasion and manage to produce their best from the outset, Melbourne City will not have things they own way, despite many having already coronated Rado Vidosic’s team.
City’s front line of Mathew Leckie, Marco Tilio and Jamie Maclaren will hold the key to victory for the premiers… or be the reason for disappointment should they fail to fire in the most important match of the season.
Jason Cummings, Sam Silvera and Marco Tulio are the match winners for what will effectively be the home side, as CommBank Stadium rocks in a sea of yellow.
Prediction
Melbourne City are the best football team in Australia – yet if there is any poetry left in the world, the Mariners will live the fairy tale and claim the championship in a true David vs Goliath upset.
I’m tipping that to happen and the Central Coast of New South Wales to be in raptures.
Game information
Venue: CommBank Stadium
Kick-off: 7:45pm (AEST)
TV: Channel 10, 10 Bold
Streaming: Paramount+, 10Play
Odds: Melbourne City $2.05, Draw $3.70, Central Coast $3.15 – odds via PlayUp
Squads
Melbourne City
1. Tom GLOVER (GK), 2. Scott GALLOWAY, 3. Scott JAMIESON (C), 4. Nuno REIS, 6. Thomas LAM, 7. Mathew LECKIE, 8. Richard VAN DER VENNE, 9. Jamie MACLAREN, 10. Florin BERENGUER, 13. Aiden O’NEILL, 14. Valon BERISHA, 15. Andrew NABBOUT, 18. Jordon HALL, 22. Curtis GOOD, 23. Marco TILIO, 25. Callum TALBOT, 33. Matthew SUTTON (GK), 35. Raphael BORGES RODRIGUES, 37. Max CAPUTO, 38. Jordan BOS
Central Coast Mariners
3. Brian KALTAK, 4. Joshua NISBET, 5. James MCGARRY, 6. Maximilien BALARD, 7. Samuel SILVERA, 9. Jason CUMMINGS, 10. Matheus MORESCHE, 11. Beni NKOLOLO, 13. Harry STEELE, 14. Dylan WENZEL-HALLS, 15. Storm ROUX, 18. Jacob FARRELL, 20. Danny VUKOVIC, 23. Daniel HALL, 24. Yaren Sozer, 25. Nectarios TRIANTIS, 28. James BAYLISS, 31. Christian THEOHAROUS, 39. Miguel DI PIZIO, 98. Marco TULIO
Grem
Roar Rookie
I agree about the gf floating as I love seeing big crowds in other states and I agree with your summary of how the game got away from City. They’ll be interesting to see next season. I know you’ve got Young for Glover, but replacing Tilio, O’Neil, Berisha, etc will be interesting as well as seeing Rado coach for a full season. Leckie, Maclaren, Nabbout, Goid, etc is still more than solid.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Nabbout helped to change the complexion of the game via his stup!d rash challenge. At 2:1, psychologically the team felt still in the game. At 3:1 it was becoming a mountain to climb. But it’s not all his fault, the City possession game plan was taken apart by the Mariners through relentless pressure and effective counter attacks. I’d add that the crowd carried the Mariners to success. City playing away did not have this kind of support. Playing the GF in Sydney is going to advantage NSW sides who will basically be the home side in the contest with massive home support. That’s why the GF should be rotated across others cities like the Champions League final.
Gabe F
Roar Rookie
Few things to take away from that match 1. Nuno Reis played his worst game of then season in the game that mattered 2. Tom Glover is extremely underrated and we are in trouble when he leaves for Wrexham this year 3. Rado Visocic forgot how to coach (Seriously? Leaving Jamo out in his last game?) 4. Chris Beath doesn't know what a handball is 5. Danny Townsend is a muppet who cost us a home crowd advantage
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Brilliant Mariners. Congratulations
Denzo
Roar Rookie
I was at the game as a WSW neutral. Having won the A League table by a country mile, and then forcing a team to play away interstate, I can’t help feel that Mel City have every right to feel aggrieved. Don’t understand why everybody is fawning over Townsend. Still a totally unfair decision.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Thanks Stuart - no internet at Commbank so I couldn’t join in, but thanks for your work for football this season.
Hudddo
Roar Rookie
Lucky to make the finals. Good one SS.
Bloke7
Roar Rookie
Didn't it then hit his forearm and bounce into his other arm, making it a triple handball? That said, I liked the old interpretation most refs followed about whether it was ball to hand or hand to ball. In those days probably not a penalty. But the rule change to "making the body unnaturally bigger" removed intent from all decisions. Technically it only not a handball if your arm is right against your body.
Hudddo
Roar Rookie
Wasn't, being their, there was no other call that could be given.
Grem
Roar Rookie
It was a great game to watch and a closer game than the score indicated. Melbourne were looking like they were ready to equalise for the first 15 of the 2nd half and then two penalties and the game was gone.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
I dare say Townsend had no influence on how this game panned out. The beauty of sport, football especially, is its shear unpredictability. The Mariners had the overwhelming support, helped enormously by the final being played in Sydney. It really seemed a raucous, fun loving crowd which made for a great viewing - winning helped :laughing: :laughing:
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Football was the winner tonight. Why can’t we get this crowd support during the regular season? Much of the football during the regular season was as equally exciting as tonight’s game.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
It was a tense game at 2-1 with City dominating , Mariners their best half was the first, but everything fell for them in the second half like magic, the two penalties, Farrel getting to the ball first, Leckie hitting the post, Van der Vanne get almost nothing on his shot, second looked absurd hand ball, the short cross from Silvera its very difficult to hang a ball up from so close for a header like that, the final moments City did go to pieces in defence. How good was the crowd, it was certainly almost all Mariners. How ironic is that the most maligned man Danny Townsend set it all up.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Mariners looked wobbly at 2-1 so they just went for it and City melted. Kaltak is a terrific find. And Farrell will get bought by someone (Sydney, can you hear me?) Hard to pick a best for CCM - they are just a great team and so well coached
Garry
Roar Rookie
thats what I was thinking but I tend to be optimistic!!
Redondo
Roar Rookie
26,000+
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Melbourne City has been humbled, the coast is alive with football fervour and the Central Coast Mariners are the 2022/23 A-League champions. Melbourne City………………..1 Central Coast Mariners……..6
Stuart Thomas
Expert
The party has started....thank you so much for joining me for the game and be sure to stick with the Roar for all the post-game coverage. What a night it was for the Central Coast Mariners. Melbourne City………………..1 Central Coast Mariners……..6
Stuart Thomas
Expert
And the trophy is presented to the Central Coast Mariners. WHAT A PERFORMANCE, WHAT A WIN and WHAT A TEAM!!!!!! Melbourne City………………..1 Central Coast Mariners……..6
338
Roar Rookie
A shame Cummings not hanging around next year