Central Coast complete 4-0 demolition job in Melbourne

Central Coast Mariners have completed a 4-0 rout of Melbourne Victory in warm conditions at Etihad Stadium.

The Mariners were rampant, especially in the second half, to notch up their second win of the season on the Victory’s home stage.

Melbourne Victory: 0
Central Coast Mariners: 4 (Adam Kwasnik '15, Matt Simon '75, Dean Heffernan '80, Nik Mrdja '84)
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Crowd: 18,531

On a hot night in Melbourne, the home side again found themselves down early in the piece to the Mariners for the second time at Etihad Stadium this season, following the 2-0 loss in round 1.

In the 15th minute, Mariners midfielder Nicky Travis forced a great save from Victory keeper Glen Moss but the ball fell for forward Adam Kwasnik who was on hand to score with a brilliant piece of acrobatics, injuring his knee in the process.

The Victory were back to their attacking selves in the second stage of the first half with striker Archie Thompson sending his shot wide after youngster Mate Dugandzic teed him up with a deft touch.

Tempers were frayed about eight minutes before half-time when Victory skipper Kevin Muscat went up for a ball on the sideline with Mariners striker Matt Simon but the latter player came off second best and required treatment, prompting his teammates to make their feelings known to the Victory hardman.

Melbourne were feeling frustrated during the first term and tried in vain to bridge the gap and almost did when they received a free-kick on the edge of the area and Dugandzic reacted quickly to play a through ball to Thompson who whipped his shot in on the turn but Mariners keeper Danny Vukovic was on hand to make a reflex save to thwart the home side to ensure Central Coast took the lead into the break.

Early in the second half, Mariners teenage winger Matthew Lewis forced a top-notch save from Moss when he knocked the ball down with his head outside the area before unleashing a left-foot volley which caused the Kiwi shot-stopper plenty of problems.

Minutes later, it was almost Lewis again when John Hutchinson sent a ball forward which ended with Pedj Bojic who flicked it into the path of the youngster who took a first time shot which flew clear of the crossbar.

Then it was the Victory’s turn to attack and they almost equalised when the ball fell to Thai international Sutee Suksomkit who was unable to knock it in from close range and moments later a Roddy Vargas header came agonisingly close to being back-heeled in by Kevin Muscat.

Melbourne were pushing forward at every opportunity but the steely resolve of the Mariners kept them out and even created some chances themselves.

With just over 15 minutes remaining, the Mariners went ahead even further when a Nicky Travis out swinging corner was met with a Matt Simon header and the ball found the back of the net.

Mariners keeper Vukovic was called on twice in quick succession, thwarting two chances from Victory’s Brazilian striker Ney Fabiano but all of a sudden, the visitors scored their third when Bojic played the ball to Dean Heffernan in the area and the left-back finished calmly underneath Glen Moss.

Then it was 4-0 in the 84th minute when Moss failed to hold on to a free-kick and Andrew Clark was nearby to cut it back for veteran striker Nik Mrdja who finished with the easiest of tap-ins to round out the rout and equal the Victory's worst ever loss in the A-League.