Two controversial refereeing decisions, accompanied by farcically long VAR reviews, have cost Central Coast dearly as the Mariners suffered a dramatic 3-2 loss to Melbourne City that sent the champions back to the top of the Isuzu UTE A-League table.
RECAP: ‘We’re still shocked’ – VAR calls leave Mariners ‘gutted’
The Mariners were denied what appeared to be a clear penalty and a chance to equalise at the death when Mathew Leckie stepped on Lewis Miller’s foot, while Melbourne City’s first-half equaliser came courtesy of a contentious penalty call against Kye Rowles.
The Mariners had snatched the lead against the run of play in the 45th minute when Beni Nkololo coolly brought down a long ball, skipped past Nuno Reis and Curtis Good and ripped a strike inside the near post.
Three minutes later, referee Shaun Evans awarded City a penalty after Kye Rowles lunged in on a challenge on Marco Tilio on the edge of the box.
The challenge clearly started outside the box but Tilio went down inside the area and to the Mariners’ dismay, Evans considered it a spot kick rather than a free kick.
Evans received word from the VAR and reviewed his own decision for close to two minutes before upholding it, with Jamie Maclaren coolly dispatching his 10th goal of the season.
City took the lead in spectacular fashion in the 57th minute.
On the corner of the 18-yard box, Florin Berenguer worked the ball to Leckie then burst forward and coolly chested the Socceroo’s chipped pass down to himself to score.
The Mariners equalised eight minutes later when Jacob Farrell skidded a wonderful ball around the back of the City defence for skipper Oliver Bozanic to smash home at the far post.
City regained the lead on 74 minutes when Berenguer pounced on a Bozanic turnover, then combined with Maclaren and Leckie before Tilio stroked it home.
Central Coast appeared certain to receive a penalty when Miller went down in the box in the 87th minute and had to come off after Leckie stepped on his foot.
Evans initially failed to whistle but went to a VAR review.
Despite spending almost five minutes checking the footage, he inexplicably upheld his original decision.
Miller was dismayed while Mariners coach Nick Montgomery received a yellow card and goalkeeping coach Jess Vanstratten was sent off.
LIVE FEED
By Matt Comito for KEEPUP
FULL-TIME: CITY 3-2 MARINERS
“It was a game that almost had more drama than goals.”
That was the word by Paramount+ commentator Ben Homer after 13 minutes of second-half stoppage time finish with City clinging on to a 3-2 win at AAMI Park.
NO PENALTY! More VAR drama at AAMI Park (9.53pm AEDT)
A late penalty cry for the Mariners saw the second extensive VAR check of the night – this time to adjudge whether the visitors would have the chance to draw level from the spot.
Lewis Miller went down in the box after Mathew Leckie appeared to leave a late foot in on the Mariners full-back. Evans returned to the pitch-side monitor and again the check was a lengthy one – but this time, no penalty was awarded.
Nick Montgomery received a yellow card from Evans in the aftermath, and Mariners goalkeeping coach Jess Vanstrattan received a red card as chaos unfolded at AAMI Park.
GOAL! Tilio fires City back in front (9.35pm AEDT)
It’s all happening at AAMI Park!
Marco Tilio’s red-hot form continues tonight, with the young Socceroo ghosting into the box to brush home a first-time shot off his left after some neat build-up play off City’s left flank.
GOAL! Captain Bozanic restores parity (9.26pm AEDT)
Backs to the wall, the Mariners are back in this one at AAMI Park – and it’s captain Ollie Bozanic getting the visitors back on level terms.
There were offside fears as Bozanic arrived at the back post to strike a close-range shot into the roof of the net but no such call was to follow as play resumed at 2-2.
Penalty call a moment of contention in the first half (9.20pm AEDT)
Here’s what unfolded in first-half stoppage time as Rowles’ challenge on Tilio ultimately saw Maclaren equalise from the spot after a lengthy VAR inquiry:
GOAL! Berenguer and O’Neill combine to put City ahead (9.17pm AEDT)
Florin Berenguer is having a season to remember in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
The final touch in and around the box was missing for the home side in the first half but the Frenchman found his groove early in the second, finding space in the box after a one-two with O’Neill to finish past Birighitti and put City 2-1 ahead.
GOAL! Maclaren gets City level in contentious circumstances (8.49pm AEDT)
A late challenge from Kye Rowles on Marco Tilio led referee Shaun Evans to award the hosts a spot kick – but a VAR check ensued, with the initial challenge appearing to take place outside the penalty area.
As Evans assessed the pitch-side monitor, a vocal Patrick Kisnorbo continuously voiced his opinion on the matter from his technical area. Eventually Evans returned to the pitch to uphold his original decision, pointing to the spot for Maclaren to step up and bury the equaliser.
GOAL! N’Kololo’s debut ALM strike puts Mariners ahead (8.42pm AEDT)
The Mariners bench erupts as Béni N’Kololo drives across the box to bury his debut Isuzu UTE A-League goal past Tom Glover into the back of the net.
It’s a shock lead for the visitors who have had no attacking impetus this half – but a wasteful City failed where the Mariners succeeded as the away side took a 1-0 lead.
Birighitti called into action as Nabbout goes close (8.38pm AEDT)
A long-range strike from Andrew Nabbout looked destined for the bottom-left corner of goal before Mariners keeper Mark Birighitti got down to palm it away with a strong right glove.
The Socceroos forward is trudging toward the half-time break with an apparent injury to his right leg, with both sides locked at 0-0.
Rowles and Farrell smother Maclaren as City press for an opener (8.21pm AEDT)
A well-timed tackle in the box from Jacob Farrell on Jamie Maclaren allowed Kye Rowles to swoop in and clear the danger, denying the City striker a clear opportunity on goal from close range.
City have created all the attack thus far but the Mariners have held firm through 25 minutes.
KICK-OFF: Mariners hunt for first ALM win in 2022 (7.57pm AEDT)
Jamie Maclaren has an early chance on goal as City hunt for an early lead at AAMI Park against the Mariners.
The visitors are without a league win in the new year – but securing three points will be a tough ask for the Mariners against an in-form City side.
PRE-MATCH
Can the Mariners buck the trend of conceding late goals, and notch a positive result against the reigning champions at AAMI Park?
Three games in a row Central Coast have buckled at the death, conceding in the 90th minute and beyond on each occasion. The results have seen Nick Montgomery’s side take just two points from a potential seven.
City, meanwhile are hitting their stride. Marco Tilio was sensational in a 3-0 win over Newcastle Jets last time out and will look to continue his good run of form in Patrick Kisnorbo’s midfield three, in the absence of Connor Metcalfe who misses out after the accumulation of five yellow cards.
