FOOTBALL
Two one-goal losses in a week at AAMI Park, Melbourne has sunk the Central Coast Mariners to the bottom end of the A-League table, unrewarded despite their exceptional showing against the defending champions.
After conceding a sloppy goal late to lose against Melbourne Victory on Saturday, February 19, the Mariners performed with a fresh bout of form against City on Tuesday, February 22, losing 3 – 2 at the back of two controversial interventions by VAR checks.
The hosts expectantly came out of the sheds energised to take the game early and applied constant pressure against the young, somewhat shaken, Mariners’ defence.
After soaking up City advances for 45 minutes, Beni N’Kololo took his first opportunity with the ball in space to score in favour of the visitors, also beginning his personal A-League goal account.
The forward third opened up for the Frenchman after controlling a long ball forward from Kye Rowles.
N’Kololo was then able to turn onto a 45 degree angle toward goal to snap the ball at the near post, wrongfooting City keeper, Thomas Glover.
A Mariners half-time lead was disrupted seven minutes into injury time by Rowles’ reckless sliding challenge on Marco Tilio at the edge of the penalty area, prompting a lengthy VAR check to decide if the offence was a free kick or penalty.
The decision was a penalty, and Jamie Maclaren calmly deposited the equaliser to create an even contest for the second half.
In the 57th minute, the first lead of the game for City was established by Florin Berenguer, making good on a clever one-two play with Aiden O’Neill that brought him point blank ahead of Mariners’ keeper, Mark Birighitti.
Not to be outdone, the visitors pushed back against their hosts, resulting in a second equaliser produced on the counterattack, put away by captain, Oliver Bozanic.
Upon reaching the corner of the penalty area, the ball came to Farrell with time to pick out the perfect low cross to Bozanic by the far post.
An efficient upward strike with his first touch shot the ball well out of Glover’s reach to once more return the match to level pegging, 2-2.
The final goal went the way of City in the 74th minute, scored by Tilio after a clever team attack with false runners left the Mariners centre defence bare.
This did not stop the Mariners from pushing back in search of an equaliser, leading to Lewis Miller making a darting run past Tilio into the penalty area before being stopped by Matthew Leckie’s boot.
A gruellingly long VAR check ensued past the 90-minute mark and into extra time as a potential penalty shot was considered, then overruled to the dismay of Mariners coach, Nick Montgomery, his team and staff.
“It’s disappointing more than anything,” Monty said.
“We came here tonight knowing that City are the benchmark team in the competition without a doubt, and I thought we matched them in every area.
“At half time I was told that the contact (from Rowles against Tilio in the first half) was outside the box.
“The referee said it was a second contact in the box so for me that’s not a penalty.
“I thought the boys fought back really well, disappointed to concede the second goal when we were on top of the game, but great character from the boys as always to never give up.”
“You just think that you’re going to get what you deserve,” continued Monty, focussing on the final VAR decision.
“Lewis Miller gets kicked on top of his foot; he got a gash on his foot so we have to take him off.
“I think everybody in the world watching the game can see it’s a penalty, but Shaun Evans (referee) decides it’s not a penalty.
“I’ve had opposition players come up to me tonight and say they can’t believe it.
“I’m devastated for the boys, because it seems like week in, week out, we’re copping a little bit of bad luck… but tonight I think we need an explanation on those decisions.”
Although holding onto multiple games in hand, the Mariners are sitting in eleventh place on the ladder, still without a win in 2022.
Now the team travel to South Australia for a match against Adelaide United on Saturday, February 26, before returning to the Central Coast in March.
Haakon Barry