The Central Coast Mariners have succumbed to league leaders Melbourne City 1 – 0 in scorching conditions at AAMI stadium in Melbourne on Tuesday evening.
The ISUZU UTE A-League players began their summer evening quest just as the nation’s cricketers retired from the near 40-degree heat in the stifling Melbourne air.
City took initiative from kick-off dominating play taking the majority of possession up until the first mandatory drinks break at 15 minutes.
Mariners keeper Danny Vukovic performed his duty in the 15th minute to keep out the first of three shots on target.
The second City shot came minutes later when Vukovic blocked a powerful shot from Matthew Leckie just outside the box.
Then Vukovic, unfortunately, couldn’t stop the third on target blast, when City’s Richard van der Venne found the back of the net on the left-hand side of the gallant keeper.
Then in the first half’s extra time, young Mariners defender Dan Hall challenged van der Venne in the box and the VAR convinced the referee to award a penalty.
Maclaren was the man nominated to take the point-blank shot up for City, only to be denied by a cracking Vukovic save. The scoreline remained attainable for the Mariners at halftime.
The Central Coast team came out strongest from the change rooms with South American Tulio launching a good shot just three minutes into the second half. His effort was saved by City’s keeper Glover, the shot acted as a precursor to an intense attacking Mariners period of the match.
Coach Montgomery used the momentum by interchanging his bench with the exhausted on-field players and looked to his youthful extras, bringing on Kuol, Kuzevski and Ruhs to make the difference.
Alas, despite the fresh legs the scoreline did not change and Melbourne City came away with the three points to cement themselves on the top of the ladder.
The Mariners now play Melbourne Victory in Gosford for the traditional New Year’s Eve match.
Fans are advised to buy tickets early to speed entry to Industree Group aka Central Coast Stadium on Saturday evening.
David Abrahams