A double to Gui Finkler sent Melbourne Victory to the top of the A-League in a 2-1 win over the Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park.
The Mariners started the match with intent, putting the Victory defence under constant pressure during the opening stages. However, as was the case last week against Sydney FC, the home side were more than capable of sustaining the Mariners’ attempts to break through and found the net themselves in the 16th minute. Oliver Bozanic’s backheel set up Gui Finkler for a clinical finish before the Brazilian scored his second just two minutes later from a trademark free-kick.
Central Coast produced a determined second half performance as they searched for a lifeline back into the match, but once again the Victory showed plenty of composure in defence. Kevin Muscat’s side did lack some of their usual prowess going forward without the rested Besart Berisha, but there was more than enough danger from the likes of Finkler and Barbarousses to keep the opposition on their toes. The Mariners did score a late goal through Matt Sim, but by that stage it was too late for hopes of an equaliser to come to fruition.
Victory’s class secures the points
The sign of a championship team is making the most of your chances, and that is what gave Kevin Muscat’s side the edge in this contest. Although Oliver Bozanic blazed his side’s first shot well over the goal in the opening minutes but his sublime backheel cut through the very heart of the Mariners defence and presented Gui Finkler with open space to run into before calmly scoring past Paul Izzo.
Finkler then firmly extinguished the visitors’ resolve with his second, spotting a window to goal after Paul Izzo set his wall for a set-piece. Both teams had chances to attack the goal with venom in the first half, but it was the Victory who properly recognised these chances and exploited them to devastating effect.
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