Luna nets first goal as City brush Mariners aside

Melbourne City continued their great start to life under Erick Mombaerts by defeating Central Coast Mariners 3-1 in Friday night’s Hyundai A-League contest.

Curtis Good’s first goal on Australian soil in over seven years, Adrian Luna’s first Hyundai A-League goal and a late effort from Rostyn Griffiths helped a slick City side account for the visitors at AAMI Park.

Jordan Murray hit a late consolation for the Mariners to set off the first match of Remembrance Round.

It is City’s fourth win in a row, one which puts the Victorians three points clear of second-placed Western Sydney Wanderers at the competition summit.

Western Sydney travel to Western United on Saturday evening.

Central Coast shocked Premiers Perth Glory last Sunday in a win that broke a six-year away day curse in WA, but Alen Stajcic’s side were unable to overturn a similarly dour record on the evening and succumbed to their 18th straight game without a win in Victoria.

The Mariners did rally after Luna put City two up on the hour mark – with Ziggy Gordon’s header going close – but it was not enough to trouble the Hyundai A-League leaders.

City were celebrating their 10th year club anniversary on the night and Griffiths got the party started late in the night by tucking away a close range finish.

Good header puts City ahead

City captain Scott Jamieson forced Mariners ‘keeper Mark Birighitti into a fingertip save to deny a blistering effort from outside the box, but the visitors would break the deadlock from the resulting corner kick.

It was Curtis Good who nodded home Lachlan Wales’ corner to put City in front with the centre back’s second Hyundai A-League goal, and first on Australian soil in over seven years.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6101804418001

Noone’s near miss

City were dominant in the opening half, and Craig Noone came close to adding what would have been a spectacular second ten minutes before the interval.

Having sent Scott Galloway galloping down the right flank, the English winger recovered the fullback’s return and bent a curling effort that left Birighitti stranded and clipped the top of the crossbar.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6101807444001

Luna doubles the lead

City made it two on the hour mark. Good found Connor Metcalfe with a wonderful ball out of defence, and with time and space, the young Australian midfielder squared for Adrian Luna to stab it past Birighitti.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6101824224001

Griffiths seals the deal

The Mariners had not mounted much of a fightback after Luna doubled the advantage, and Griffiths made absolutely sure of the points by tucking away the scraps on 82 minutes.

Birighitti was forced to down low to palm away Harrison Delbridge’s touch but the City midfielder reacted quickest to blast in his first goal of the campaign.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6101828999001