It will be six years to the day since Central Coast’s last triumph over Melbourne Victory in the Hyundai A-League when the bottom-placed Mariners arrive in Victoria for Sunday’s 5.00pm AEST kick off.
April 14, 2013, was the last time the lowly Mariners earned three points against the reigning Hyundai A-League Champions.
The Gosford club have lost 13 of the following 17 fixtures and will need to overturn that mountain of history and more to cause a shock at AAMI Park in Round 25’s David vs Goliath battle.
To do so, Alen Stajcic’s side will hope Victory’s midweek AFC Champions League date with Guangzhou Evergrande in China takes a physical toll, along with the energy expended in last Saturday’s crushing, last-minute 2-1 Big Blue defeat to Sydney FC.
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That loss to the Sky Blues bookended a generally positive showing from Kevin Muscat’s side, one in which Kosta Barbarouses continued his remarkable season.
Already enjoying his most prolific return to date, Barbarouses’ goal was his 14th of the season, and the Kiwi was the match-winner when Victory prevailed 3-2 over the Mariners in Gosford in February.
Barbarouses – alongside Keisuke Honda, James Troisi and Ola Toivonen – is one of several eminent Melbourne dangermen the visitors must shackle if they are to register what would be one of the shock results of the campaign.
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Key Opta facts
- Central Coast Mariners have not won against Melbourne Victory in the Hyundai A-League since April 14, 2013 (D4, L13 since); the Mariners have lost their last three games against Victory, conceding an average of four goals per game in that time.
- This will be the ninth Hyundai A-League meeting between Melbourne Victory and Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park; Victory have picked up a win in each of their previous eight encounters, scoring an average of three goals per game.
- Victory boss Kevin Muscat is yet to lose against only one team in the Hyundai A-League as a manager – Central Coast Mariners (W13, D4).
Ins and Outs
Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Matthew ACTON (gk), 2.Storm ROUX, 3.Corey BROWN, 4.Keisuke HONDA, 5.Georg NIEDERMEIER, 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 7.Kenny ATHIU, 8.Terry ANTONIS, 9.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 10.James TROISI, 11.Ola TOIVONEN, 14.Thomas DENG, 15.Raul BAENA, 16.Josh HOPE, 17.James DONACHIE, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 21.Carl VALERI, 24. Elvis KAMSOBA **two to be omitted**
Ins: 2.Storm ROUX, (promoted), 7.Kenny ATHIU (promoted), 15.Raul BAENA (return from injury), 20.Lawrence THOMAS (promoted)
Outs: 25.Anthony LESIOTIS, 30.Matthew SUTTON
Unavailable: nil
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Ben KENNEDY (gk), 2.Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, 3.Jack CLISBY, 6. Tom HIARIEJ, 7. Andrew HOOLE, 8.Michael McGLINCHEY, 11.Connor PAIN, 18.Matt MILLAR, 12.Adam PEARCE (gk), 17.Peter KEKERIS, 19.Matt SIMON (c), 22.Jacob MELLING, 23.Mario SHABOW 25.Jordan MURRAY, 28.Sam GRAHAM, 29.Stephen MALLON, 68.Jem KARACAN **one to be omitted**
Ins: 17.Peter KEKERIS (promoted), 23.Mario SHABOW (promoted), 68.Jem KARACAN (return from suspension)
Outs: 13.Aiden O’NEILL (suspended – 1 week) & 15.Kye ROWLES (suspended – 1 week)
Unavailable: 10.Tommy OAR (knee injury) & 21.Corey GAMEIRO (knee injury)
How to watch
Can the Mariners cause an unlikely upset? Tune in to FOX SPORTS 507 to find out. Kick off is at 5.00pm (AEST). You can also stream it live on the MyFootball Live App, or subscribe to Kayo Sports.
Tickets
Book your seat at AAMI Park by clicking HERE.
