Melbourne remains outright leader on top of the Hyundai A-League table after a clinical 3-0 victory over the Central Coast Mariners at Gosford’s Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday night.
Second half goals to Carlos Hernandez and Matthew Kemp followed by an embarrassing own goal from Mariners defender Nigel Boogaard fired Melbourne to its first win over the Mariners this season.
Hernandez finished off a great move featuring Archie Thompson and Kemp in the 56th minute before Kemp secured the points with a rare goal in the 70th minute.
That was not the end of the scoring with Boogaard finding the back of his own net 13 minutes from time. A Kemp cross looked to be headed safely to Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic but Boogaard attempted to clear and the Adelaide-bound defender could only watch as the ball trickled into the net after his poor touch.
Melbourne came to the Central Coast desperate for the three points after the Mariners scored back to back wins against the competition leaders at Etihad Stadium earlier this campaign.
The Mariners created plenty of great chances in both halves, but it was the visitors who were more clinical in front of the goals.
Melbourne came out of the blocks impressively, dominating possession and field position for much of the first half. The visitors were denied a chance to take the lead after only six minutes, but Robbie Kruse was ruled off-side. Replays showed Kruse should have been allowed to continue.
Hernandez then had a long range shot go just wide and it was not until the 13th minute that the Mariners created their first chance when striker Matt Simon shot over the bar.
As the half went on, the Mariners upped their intensity. Pedj Bojic should have done better, but headed wide from a corner in the 24th minute before Simon was denied from close range in the 33rd minute.
Simon had his powerful header well saved by Melbourne goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak after a fantastic Dean Heffernan cross.
Mariners midfielder Nicky Travis then had two chances, the second of which was a well struck volley which went agonisingly wide with Langerak beaten.
As much as they tried, the Mariners could not find an early second-half goal. At the other end of the field Melbourne created chances and finished them off inflicting the Mariners first loss at Bluetongue Stadium this season.
Central Coast 0
Melbourne Victory 3 (Hernandez 56, Kemp 70, Boogaard 77og)
Crowd: 7571 at Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
