Mariners wingplay outstanding
The duo of Fabio Ferreira and debutant Mitchell Austin terrorised Glory fullbacks Antony Golec and Joshua Risdon all afternoon. Ferreira slotted two penalties, however, it was his work down the right-flank which most excited the Yellow Army. Similar havoc was wreaked by the impressive Austin, who consistently reached the byline on the left hand side. New Mariners manager Tony Walmsley promised enterprising football and the two wingers delivered. The pair also linked-up well with the midfield double pivot of Nick Fitzgerald and Anthony Caceres. Though the contest finished 3-2, on another day the Mariners may have put four or five past the under siege Glory.
Glory defensive unit all at sea on the coast
On paper, the quartet of Joshua Risdon, Dino Djulbic, Michael Thwaite and Antony Golec appear a solid back four with A-League experience and quality. However, the marauding Mariners made the Glory defenders look second rate for most of their clash. The fullbacks Risdon and Golec were troubled throughout by attackers Ferreira and Austin, with Golec giving away a penalty after a rash challenge. Djulbic and Thwaite were suspect positionally, with the pair struggling to cope with the pace of the incoming opposition. Though they were not assisted by their fullbacks, nor shielded by their midfield, the pair would be disappointed with their performances and Kenny Lowe will expect much more solidarity next time out against the Phoenix at home.
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Dekker slots seamlessly into City attack
A product of Melbourne City’s youth team, 21-year-old striker Wade Dekker wasted little time in making a mark on the match against Sydney FC. Taking just 16 minutes to net a debut goal, he received a Bruno Fornaroli pass, settling on the ball before calmly tucking it away in the bottom corner. Dekker embraced fellow youth team graduate Hernan Espindola upon scoring, the pair among a number of youngsters in a makeshift City side dealing with injuries to a number of first team regulars. He showed a willingness to run the lines, as well as a tidy first touch and astute link-up play. Dekker looked comfortable against last season’s losing grand finalists and did his chances of cementing a spot in City’s forward line no harm with an accomplished debut performance.
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