The battle for the ISZU-UTE A-league championships was well and truly on show on Sunday evening, February 25, at AAMI Park in Melbourne as the Central Coast Mariners snatched a 1-0 victory from Melbourne Victory.
Securing the victory saw the Mariners close the gap to just three points behind A-League leaders Wellington Phoenix, thanks to a pivotal moment when Angel Torres’ masterful free-kick led to an own goal early in the second half.
The dramatic match saw the field reduced to 10 against 9 as the Mariners’ Ronald Barcellos was sent off in the closing moments, alongside Roderick Miranda and Jordi Valadon for the opposition.
Amid these challenges, Mark Jackson strategically rotated his squad, introducing fresh legs in response to recent suspensions and a tight game schedule, with Nathan Paull, Bradley Tapp, Torres, and Ryan Edmondson stepping in to fill the gaps.
This win adds a significant chapter to the Mariners’ season’s narrative.