Impressive goals to Asdrubal and Wout Brama were enough for the Central Coast Mariners to claim a 2-0 win over Melbourne Victory in a behind closed doors friendly at AAMI Park
Melbourne Victory 0 Central Coast Mariners 2 (Asdrubal 40’ & Brama 78’)
The Run Down
The goals for Asdrubal and Brama were their second goal each this pre-season, with the former Las Palmas number 9 finding the net from distance and Brama heading home from a precision cross.
The opening 20 minutes of play was even between the sides, with Danny De Silva and Andrew Hoole trying their luck from distance in the early stages.
Victory had a couple of chances of their own when Glover was called into action by a sharp James Troisi strike. Glover moved well to his right to keep the match on even terms.
The back and forth continued throughout the first half until our Spanish striker grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and fired a shot home from 25-yards-out to give his side a 1-0 lead with five minutes of the first half remaining.
Asdrubal’s goal was enough to send his team into the sheds with a 1-0 lead at half time.
Kwabena Appiah and Ben Kennedy replaced Andrew Hoole & Tom Glover respectively at half time and both were called into immediate action.
First it was Appiah who broke into space, the speedy attacker looked certain to double the Mariners’ lead but a very sharp save from Lawrence Thomas maintained the score line. At the other end just five minutes later, Victory had a top chance and Kennedy went to full stretch to deny Jai Ingham.
The Mariners and Victory were both pressing, with half chances to either side but it was the Yellow & Navy who would double their lead in the 78th minute thanks to the Dutch connection! Brama launched himself at a Tom Hiariej cross into the box, his header was perfectly placed into the top corner, giving Thomas no chance to make a save.
Appiah had another close call in the dying stages but Thomas made a top save to keep the score at 2-0 until the final whistle.
The Central Coast Mariners attention now turns to this Saturday’s family day where Members and fans have the chance to meet the full Mariners squad at Kibble Park!
Goals
40’ ASDRUBAL GOAL (1-0): What a goal to take the lead. Antony Golec slotted a superb through-ball to Asdrubal who acted quickly on the attack. Asdrubal saw his opportunity with Lawrence Thomas off his line and shot from distance to bag his second pre-season goal for the Yellow & Navy.
78’ BRAMA GOAL (2-0): After some crafty play at the top of the box, the ball was crossed into the area by Hiariej which found the head of Brama. Brama leapt above the pack and headed into the top corner.
Paolo in the press
“The real positive was again we didn’t concede which is an area we have been working on,” Okon said. “We moved the ball and created a number of real goal scoring opportunities.
“A convincing result and performance, albeit a friendly game, against one of the best A-League teams gives us confidence that we can compete.
“We will continue to work hard over the next two weeks to ensure we are ready for round one,” Okon said.
Central Coast Mariners: 18.Tom GLOVER (GK) (1.Ben Kennedy (GK) 45’), 5.Antony GOLEC, 3.Josh ROSE (21.Kye ROWLES 67’) 15.Alan BARO, 6.Tom HIARIEJ, 11.Connor PAIN (14.Adam Berry 80’), 2. Storm Roux (4.Jake McGING 78’), 10.Daniel De SILVA (12.Trent Buhagiar 67’), 7. Andrew Hoole (13.Kwabena APPIAH 40’), 23.Wout BRAMA (16. Liam Rose 78’), 9.ASDRUBAL
Substitutes not used: 17. Josh Bingham
Head Coach: Paul Okon
Yellow cards: Brama 52’, Golec 52’
Melbourne Victory: 20.Lawrence THOMAS (GK), 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 4.Rhys WILLIAMS (14.Thomas DENG 60’ – 22.Stefan NIGRO 70’), 17.James DONACHIE, 2.Jason GERIA, 21.Carl VALERI, 5.Mark MILLIGAN (15.SANCHEZ 45’), 10.James TROISI, 11.Mitch AUSTIN, 9.Kosta BARBAROUSES (Jai INGHAM 45’), 8.Besart BERISHA
Substitutes not used: 1.Matthew ACTON (GK), 18.HOPE, 19.WARING, 32.McGILP,
Head Coach: Kevin Muscat
Yellow cards: Williams 23’, Sanchez 63’ Valeri 85’
Wednesday, 20 September 2017
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Melbourne Victory vs. Central Coast Mariners
