Melbourne City ended a three-match winless run with a 4-1 win over Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park.
City made a sluggish start to the match, but began to work their way into the contest as Bruno Fornaroli and Aaron Mooy began to have an impact on the pitch. However, the Mariners took a shock lead in the 35th minute as Mitch Austin sprinted away from his marker before calmly finishing past Thomas Sorensen after a counter attack from a City corner.
Melbourne City emerged for the second half with renewed purpose and took the lead as Patrick Kisnorbo headed home a delightful free-kick by Aaron Mooy. The home side soon hit the front as Mooy converted a penalty won by Nick Fitzgerald after a lengthy stoppage due to a serious leg injury to Storm Roux.
Behind and shaken by their teammate’s injury, the Mariners quickly conceded a third as Ben Garuccio beat Paul Izzo at his near post. Countless chances to Bruno Fornaroli went begging to keep some level of respectability on the scoreboard, but a late send off for Fabio Ferreira gives Tony Walmsley a headache going into next week’s must-win derby against Newcastle Jets. Aaron Mooy’s flawless free-kick in stoppage time added the icing on the cake for the home side.
It was by no means a perfect performance from City, but a strong second half allows them to keep pace with the top three of Western Sydney Wanderers, Brisbane Roar and Adelaide United.
Novillo makes Fornaroli goal-shy
The Martinique international was stood down by his club for two matches following an arrest earlier in the week, being replaced by Ben Garuccio. Although Garuccio proved more than a match for Mariners right back Storm Roux, being unlucky not to receive a penalty in the first half, City certainly missed Novillo’s added goal threat. Bruno Fornaroli found himself often under the attention of two and even three defenders and clearly struggled to convert his chances, including two one-on-ones with Paul Izzo. Garuccio did find the net in the second half, but only after Roux had left the field injured, and the Mariners were clearly shell-shocked.
That Boy Trent
17-year-old Trent Buhagiar made his starting debut in the A-League playing beside Josh Bingham up front, with marquee man Luis Garcia rested with a slight knock ahead of next week’s must-win F3 Derby. The youngster showed some signs of inexperience with poor decision-making in the final third but did lay off the final pass before Mitch Austin’s wonder goal in the first half. Further testament to the threat of his pace was Michael Zullo’s decision to pull the striker down rather than risk a potentially damaging counter-attack. Buhagiar may not have found the net in his maiden start, but he showed enough to suggest that he has a part to play in the Mariners’ remaining matches this season.
Mariners decimated ahead of Derby
Tony Walmsley’s side are still at the bottom of the ladder, and will surely need to win next week against local rivals Newcastle to have any chance of avoiding a maiden wooden spoon, but there are a number of first-teamers that will miss the match.
Jacob Poscoliero triggered an automatic one-match with a first-half yellow card, while right back Storm Roux is undoubtedly due for a long spell on the sidelines after his horrific injury in the second half. Fellow defender Jake McGing missed the clash against City through injury and could fail to recover in time for the game, while Fabio Ferreira’s red card removes a key attacking threat for Tony Walmsley, despite the return of rested marquee man Luis Garcia.
Outside90 Player of the Year votes
3 – Aaron Mooy
2 – Patrick Kisnorbo
1 – Bruno Fornaroli
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