Central Coast Mariners have secured their first ever away win against Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park, defeating them 1-0 in a game which also saw three players sent off.
Coming into the game having had just two days training following their dramatic AFC Cup win over Macarthur FC, Mariners boss Mark Jackson delivered a tactical masterclass, switching from a tried and tested formation as they stifled Victory to earn an impressive victory.
“Today was a fantastic team effort from everybody,” declared Jackson after the game when speaking to Paramount+. “We changed it a little bit with how we pressed and we didn’t have much time to work on the training pitch with it.
“But their concentration on the video sessions we did and the walk-throughs we did… they went and executed it today and particularly in the second half, they did it superbly.”
Opting to use three central defenders in the shape of Brian Kaltak, Dan Hall and the recalled Nathan Paull, Jackson then deployed Storm Roux as a right wing back whilst switching Mikael Doka over to the left hand side in a similar role.
“We said to the boys we have to believe in what we’re doing,” revealed Jackson. “Myself, Danny, the other coaching staff – we said listen, we’re going to be all in with this we’ve got a short turnaround and we have to teach the boys in a short space of time.
“It’s only little tweaks and the principles are the same but they took it on board really well, executed it and it helped get the win today.”
Both sides had chances to break the deadlock in the first half but it was an own-goal from Victory’s Ryan Teague that proved to be the decider in the 48th minute, inadvertently chesting home Angel Torres’ dangerous free-kick.
Tempers then flared on several occasions as Melbourne Victory captain Roderick Miranda was shown a second yellow card before substitute Jordi Valadon was given a straight red for the denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Clinging on to their one-goal lead, the Mariners were reduced to 10-men in stoppage time after substitute Ronald Barcellos was given a straight red card for a bad tackle but the visitors held on to secure their first ever away win against Victory at AAMI Park.
The result moves them up into second on the ladder and now just three points behind Wellington Phoenix while Victory remain third on the ladder.
After an even opening 20 minutes it was Victory who came closest to breaking the deadlock; a poor pass from Brian Kaltak put Nathan Paull under pressure and he was subsequently dispossesed by Daniel Arzani, however the winger dragged his shot wide of the far post.
Arzani then had another sight of goal in the 27th minute but his shot from the edge of the box curled harmlessly wide of the target after some good work by teammate Zinedine Machach.
Central Coast defender Mikael Doka was then inches away from finding the opener but his free-kick from close to 30 metres out was tipped over the bar by a flying Paul Izzo.
Mariners keeper Danny Vukovic then produced a brilliant save to deny Arzani in the 31st minute, this time back-peddling on his line to tip the Victory man’s free-kick over the bar.
The deadlock was eventually broken though and it was the Mariners who were the happier side just two minutes into the second half. Colombian winger Angel Torres whipped a delicious out-swinging free-kick into the six yard box which was turned into his own net by a retreating Ryan Teague.
Half-time substitute Alou Kuol then should have doubled the Mariners’ lead just two minutes later as he latched on to brilliant cut back from the impressive Mikael Doka, however Kuol’s side-footed effort kissed the inside of the far post before bouncing back across goal and away to safety.
Tempers then flared in the 64th minute as Torres was involved in a heating confrontation with Victory defender Connor Chapman. Initially dragged to the floor, Torres reacted angrily to Chapman’s shirt pull and barged into the defender, who then hit the deck holding his face.
However referee Tim Danaskos deemed the incident worthy of only a yellow card and the Colombian winger remained on the field of play.
The referee did soon pull a red card out of his pocket though and it was for Victory captain Roderick Miranda. Already on a booking, the skipper hauled down striker Alou Kuol after misjudging an aerial ball and the referee had no choice but to produce a second yellow card.
Things then got even worse for Victory as Tony Popovic’s side were reduced to nine-men following a VAR review which saw referee Danaskos flash a straight red card to substitute Jordi Valadon for what was deemed to be the denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity as he tangled with striker Alou Kuol.
The drama didn’t end there though as another VAR review saw the Mariners reduced to 10-men after substitute Ronald Barcellos was given a straight red card for stamping on the achilles of Connor Chapman.
The Mariners almost added a second right at the death but Josh Nisbet couldn’t convert into an empty net but the celebrations were there for all to see at full time as Mark Jackson’s Central Coast side secured a first ever away win against Victory at AAMI Park.
