Central Coast Mariners will face a strenuous test of their Premiership credentials when travelling to face a surging Melbourne City outfit at AAMI Park on Monday night.
The Mariners’ remarkable rise in the 2020/21 A-League campaign has seen Alen Stajcic’s side make top spot on the table their own, but a number of challengers have emerged from the pack of late to put pressure on the league-leaders.
One of those teams is Patrick Kisnorbo’s Melbourne City, who have impressed in four consecutive wins leading into the Monday night contest. City and Socceroos spearhead Jamie Maclaren has scored seven of his 10 goals for the season on the four-game stretch, combining with fellow forwards Andrew Nabbout and Craig Noone to devastating effect.
Currently fifth on the A-League table, a win over the Mariners will send City into fourth place on 21 points, just four points off the Mariners with two games in hand over their Matchweek 13 opponents.
The Mariners are on an impressive run of their own, with five wins, one draw and just one defeat coming from their past seven games. The first fixture on that impressive streak came against Kisnorbo’s side at Central Coast Stadium on February 3, when City raced out to a 2-0 lead before a three-goal comeback gave the Mariners a memorable 3-2 victory.
Getting a positive result at AAMI Park will be a stern challenge for the Mariners – a side who have shown a hunger to rise to the occasion in the biggest moments of the season to date. If Stajcic can mastermind another Mariners win and stop the City run, his side will move six points clear on top of the A-League table.
MW13 REPORT: Newcastle Jets 1-4 Adelaide United
MW13 REPORT: Macarthur 2-1 Western United
Match Details
Melbourne City v Central Coast Mariners
Monday, 22 March 2021
Venue: AAMI Park
Kick-off: 7.05pm AEDT
Broadcast: Fox Sports 505
Stream: MyFootball Live App, Kayo Sports
Match Centre
How to follow the action
Match Centre: Live updates, videos and statistics
Follow @ALeague on Twitter and join the conversation using #MCYvCCM #ALeague