Central Coast Mariners hero Matt Simon struggled to put his elation into words after a dream finale ahead of his Korean switch.
Central Coast Mariners hero Matt Simon struggled to put his elation into words after a dream finale ahead of his Korean switch.
Simon scored after just 18 seconds and again late on as his hometown club defeated Melbourne Victory 2-0, and the scoreline could have been much bigger as the Mariners put on a fitting farewell party in front of a healthy home crowd.
The striker will board a plane to link with new club Chunnam Dragons on Thursday morning with a smile on his face after signing off – for now – with a match-winning performance.
“If I had had some sleep this last week I probably would have dreamt something like that,” he said.
“I was ecstatic how it turned out. I actually wanted to come off before I scored my second one, I couldn’t run much longer. I’m grateful for the support I’ve had and I’ve loved every second playing for this team.”
A Central Coast local who has spent his entire career in the region, Simon said it’s difficult to see himself wearing anything but yellow and navy should he ever return to the Hyundai A-League.
“Probably not. I’d have to look at circumstances when I come back from overseas but it’d be very hard to play for another A-League club.”
Coach Graham Arnold was delighted with his side’s dominant showing as they extended their league lead to six points.
“It was the performance of the season,” Arnold said.
“It was a fairytale finish for Matty. The crowd enjoyed the occasion. I didn’t enjoy it because of the amount of chances we missed, but it was great to play that well in front of a good crowd.”
“We thoroughly deserved to win. We hit the post twice and the crossbar once.”
Arnold, a former Socceroos striker, has taken Simon under his wing at Bluetongue Stadium and he was thrilled to see his top student sent off on such a high.
“I just said to the chairman can we buy him back?” Arnold joked.
“I’m so happy for him. I’ve worked closely with him here and for the Olympic team, where I saw a lot of raw ability. His work rate is phenomenal and he’s a pain in the arse to play against.”
“I asked him if he wanted to go and when he said he did I said I’d drive him to the airport because it gives me great satisfaction to see this happen.”
“Musti (Dortmund signing Mustafa Amini) was first, he’s second and there will be others that go. And that’s my job, to try help these boys be millionaires.”
Arnold said the club has enough financial room to move with regards to replacing the talismanic target man, but that he gladly trusts the forwards already at the club unless a “special” player could be found for the rest of the season and the AFC Champions League group stage.
“There is a bit of money available but even though we’re well under the salary cap now I won’t spend it unless I get someone special,” he said.
“If I need to I could get a top striker in for four months but I throw my faith in the boys.”
Arnold confirmed that regular youngsters Amini and Bernie Ibini were put on the bench to ease their workload.
The performances of replacements Daniel McBreen and Troy Hearfield, along with stand-in centre back Trent Sainsbury, combined with the impending returns of Patrick Zwaanswijk and Rostyn Griffiths, give the Mariners some ominous depth even with Simon’s departure.
