Archie Thompson continued his hot streak of form with a second-half equaliser for the Melbourne Victory as they drew 1-1 with the Central Coast Mariners in a pre-season friendly on Sunday.
Archie Thompson continued his hot streak of form with a second-half equaliser for the Melbourne Victory as they drew 1-1 with the Central Coast Mariners in a pre-season friendly on Sunday.
Thompson – who has scored for Australia in fixtures against Lebanon and Jordan in the past fortnight – netted a neat lob just after the hour-mark for Victory as both sides shared the spoils at Knox Grammar School in New South Wales.
Mariners skipper Patrick Zwaanswijk scored the opener in the first half but a draw was a fair result after both sides enjoyed good spells of possession.
Central Coast were dominant in the first half, with Zwaanswijk heading a cross from the right past Victory goalkeeper Tando Velaphi after just three minutes.
Tom Rogic had a chance to add to the lead shortly after while Mariners striker Mitchell Duke, who impressed throughout the match, had two good opportunities as well.
Leigh Broxham was Victory’s best in the first half and after keeping the hosts at bay, Ange Postecoglou’s side were much-improved in the second period.
Mark Milligan was also good for Victory and they equalised when Thompson broke free and calmly lifted the ball over Central Coast goalkeeper Mat Ryan.
Zwaanswijk made a desperate attempt to clear the ball but it was in vain and it was a goal that Victory deserved as they counter-attacked well after the break.
Substitute keeper Lawrence Thomas denied Central Coast’s John Hutchinson just after Victory had levelled proceedings before Thompson was substituted with 22 minutes remaining, replaced by Julius Davies.
A raft of changes in the latter stages of the match interrupted the flow but both sides would have been pleased with their performance as the countdown to the A-League season continues.
In other pre-season friendlies, Brisbane Roar trounced Sydney FC 5-1 in Mackay.
On the day that Alessandro Del Piero arrived in the country, the Sky Blues were destroyed in the second half as the reigning A-League champions scored four times.
Thomas Broich’s 26th-minute effort was cancelled out by Mitch Mallia for the losers just before the break, but an own goal to Rhyan Grant and late strikes from Erik Paartalu, Ben Halloran and former Sydney defender Matt Jurman saw Brisbane record a comfortable victory.
Melbourne Heart were also on the winners’ list, defeating a Peninsula XI 2-0 in Langwarrin.
Golgol Mebrahtu and Dylan Macallister scored the goals for the Heart.
