Melbourne Victory have continued their unbeaten run in pre-season, registering a 3-0 win against the Central Coast Mariners behind closed door in Melbourne on Monday.
A ten minute attacking onslaught from the reigning Champions in the second half saw Daniel Georgievski open the scoring, followed by a swift brace from striker Besart Berisha.
The win was Victory‘s fifth from five games this pre-season as the team prepares for next week’s Westfield FFA Cup 2015 Quarter Final against Adelaide United at AAMI Park.
Georgievski opened the scoring in the 50th minute, heading home a Gui Finkler corner kick in Victory’s first outing at AAMI Park since the Hyundai A-League 2015 Grand Final in May.
Berisha doubled Victory’s advantage soon after, pouncing on a ball from Kosta Barbarouses and finding the back of the net with a powerful finish.
Berisha struck again just two minutes later, receiving the ball from Georgievski and beating Central Coast goalkeeper Paul Izzo with a shot from the edge of the six-yard box.
Kevin Muscat fielded a strong side for the game against Hyundai A-League opposition with new signing Oliver Bozanic making his first start in Victory colours.
Berisha, Fahid Ben Khalfallah and Archie Thompson started up front, while Bozanic, Gui Finkler and Carl Valeri in combined well in midfield.
Dylan Murnane, Matthieu Delpierre, Leigh Broxham and Georgievski formed the back four with Danny Vukovic in goal.
Lawrence Thomas, Barbarouses, Connor Pain, Rashid Mahazi and Jason Geria were used off the bench, while youth team players Dion Paola, 17, and Pierce Waring, 16, also featured.
Tickets for Victory’s Westfield FFA Cup 2015 Quarter Final against Adelaide United at AAMI Park are available by clicking here.
Melbourne Victory 3 (Georgievski 50′, Berisha 58′, 60′)
Central Coast Mariners 0
