The Central Coast Mariners returned from their tour to the southern capital of sport without a victory over Melbourne’s cellar-dwelling club, Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park.
The young team from the Coast lost its newfound mojo and was frustratingly defeated 2 -0 by an experienced Melbourne Victory team hungry for both points and respect.
The Mariners had a noteworthy possession rate of 73 per cent of the ball throughout the game, but failed to convert that into goals and points.
The two home side goals were scored at the start of each half and were enough to secure a victory for the Victory.
Despite the loss Mariners’ coach Nick Montgomery was philosophical when asked about the poor results in Melbourne saying “it has not been a happy hunting ground (in AAMI Park); you do have that at some places”.
“At some point, we have to break that hoodoo or whatever you call it but unfortunately it wasn’t today,” he said.
The Mariners have now slipped to fourth position on the ISUZU-UTE A-League ladder and will need to win a string of games to stay in finals contention.
The Coast team has a week off for the international break, before returning to Gosford’s Industree Group Stadium on Saturday, April 1, against Brisbane Roar at 5pm.
CCN