Melbourne Victory thrash Central Coast Mariners, putting A-League on notice

A ruthless Melbourne Victory have underlined their A-League premiership credentials with a 3-0 win over the struggling Central Coast Mariners at North Sydney Oval.

Three goals in 11 minutes in the second-half sealed the points but the final scoreline was harsh on the Mariners, who were holding their own against Kevin Muscat’s side for an hour before being undone by three high quality goals.

Besart Berisha, opened the scoring in the 61st minute on Friday night, with Daniel Georgievski then adding the second with goal of the season contender.

Substitute Connor Pain scored a third to wrap up the win and preserve his side’s unbeaten record, leaving the second-placed Victory just one point behind leaders Perth Glory.

Muscat expressed concerns about the pitch before the game, but they proved to be unfounded as both sides played their part in a breathless opening 15 minutes on a slippery surface.

The visitors looked the more threatening early on with the outstanding Fahid Ben Khalfallah pulling the strings in midfield and the evergreen Archie Thompson and Berisha causing all sorts of problems with their movement in the box.

Berisha and Kosta Barborouses showed signs of intent with efforts that went over the bar, but the Mariners started to come into the game with the returning Matt Simon giving the hosts some presence in attack.

Hungarian midfielder Richard Vernes clipped the top of the net with a decent free-kick and Victory right-back Jason Geria rescued his side with a superb last-ditch tackle to take the ball off the toes of Nick Fitzgerald just inside the box.

The second period started at a far more sedate pace to the first before Berisha showed his striker’s instinct just after the hour mark to beat Liam Reddy with a low drive after being superbly teed up by Thompson.

Vernes had a golden opportunity to restore parity almost immediately when he latched onto a Anthony Caceres pass, but his first-time volley flashed just over the crossbar.

But the game was turned on its head by left-back Georgievski who dispossessed Nick Montgomery just outside the box then bent a magnificent effort into the top right-hand corner of Reddy’s net.

The strike knocked the stuffing out of Phil Moss’ side and Paine took advantage of some slack marking to give Reddy no chance from close range from a low Barborouses cross.

Caceres went close to grabbing a consolation in the final minute but his 25m thunderbolt hit the side-netting.

Muscat said the decision of Mariners owner Mike Charlesworth to move the game to North Sydney Oval had taken the game back two decades.

Muscat and opposing coach Phil Moss said both sides struggled to play through the middle of the pitch where the cricket wicket is usually situated and the Victory boss said the surroundings were not suitable for A-League matches.

“Throughout the week I only raised the issues because I was genuinely concerned,” Muscat said. “Football has gone back 20 years tonight playing on a cricket pitch.

“But I will say the groundsman did a remarkable job getting it in the condition it was in.

“In this day and age the steps we have taken forward as a code ... we have taken a backward step tonight.”

Mariners boss Moss admitted it was tough for his team to play away from their usual base at Central Coast Stadium but said it was Charlesworth’s right to switch games.

“Our home ground is Central Coast Stadium and we’re proud to be the Central Coast Mariners,” he said.

“It’s difficult to come and play somewhere else but our owner wants to enlarge the footprint of the club and tap into the 20 per cent membership down here. He’s got every right to do that, he’s put a lot of money into the club.

“We have to go out and play good football and win games.”