Melbourne Heart were robbed in their 1-0 defeat to competition leaders Central Coast but coach John van ‘t Schip says his charges must quickly move on from the cruel loss.
Melbourne Heart were robbed in their 1-0 defeat to competition leaders Central Coast but coach John van ‘t Schip says his charges must quickly move on from the cruel loss.
The Mariners’ never-say-die attitude was on show at AAMI Park as Adam Kwasnik scored in the 89th minute after Heart had dominated the fast-paced match.
Kwasnik’s late winner came after an inspired effort Qantas Olyroos stopper Mathew Ryan – the 19-year-old repelled countless attacking plays from Heart and underlined why he is rated as one of Australia’s top young goalkeepers.
The match-winning strike was a despairing blow for Heart. Kwasnik arrived to meet Michael McGlinchey’s well-placed cross at the far post and with full time immanent he struck the ball low past goalkeeper Clint Bolton.
“To lose a game like that at the end is very hard,” Van ‘t Schip said.
”We played well for big parts of the game and we didn’t put that much away – hardly anything.
”The game opens up, we were really playing to win. McGlinchey got the cross in – the two players there [marking him] maybe we could have been more aggressive – and of course, Brendan at the far post. The cross was perfect, Brendan was close, but not close enough.”
It was Heart’s fourth match without a win but a rational Van ‘t Schip was pleased with the long list of positives to come out of the loss.
Missing key players Eli Babalj, Fred and Simon Colosimo, Heart employed a 3-4-3 combination and it worked as Central Coast’s three chief playmakers had little impact.
Mariners’ key midfielder Mustafa Amini was subbed off in the second half after Michael Marrone did an excellent job limiting his output and full backs Pedj Bojic and Josh Rose were also shut out of the game.
“I can only give big compliments to all the boys, but for the three points, it wasn’t good enough,” Van’ t Schip said.
Third-placed Heart are set to regain defender Simon Colosimo from injury as well as rested duo Mate Dugandzic and Eli Babalj for the home clash with second-placed Brisbane Roar on Saturday night.
Van ‘t Schip said he would need to devise a very different plan against Brisbane compared to Wednesday night’s tactics.
“The Mariners play a different kind of game to Brisbane. Brisbane want to dominate, they want to have ball possession, they want to play in the half of the opponent,” he said.
“Central Coast, they leave the ball to the opponent. When they have the ball, they can play, of course – they’re more effective than Brisbane until now.
“They’re two kinds of systems and they’re both very effective. It’s interesting to see at the end of the season who can go as far as possible.”
Meanwhile ex-Adelaide United midfielder Paul Reid is set to join Heart.
The 32-year-old started training with the club on Tuesday and will most likely be added to their squad as an injury replacement player.
He won’t be registered in time for the Roar match but should be available to pull on the red and white on January 29 when Heart take on Wellington.
