Can Central Coast Mariners beat a Keisuke Honda-led Melbourne Victory

TOMMY Oar vividly remembers scoring his maiden Socceroos goal in Saitama five-and-a-half years ago.

SAITAMA, JAPAN - JUNE 04: Tommy Oar of Australia scores a goal from out wide during the FIFA World Cup qualifier match between Japan and Australia at Saitama Stadium on June 4, 2013 in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

• Wanderer happy with path from Munich to Mudgee

TOMMY Oar vividly remembers scoring his maiden Socceroos goal in Saitama five-and-a- half years ago.

The winger’s cross-come-shot somehow lobbed over Japan’s goalkeeper and in off the post, a looping move he has no shame in labelling fortuitous.

Had Australia lasted eight minutes longer they would have taken a massive three points from the away World Cup qualifier.

Instead they took one, after Keisuke Honda stroked home a penalty in the final minute to qualify Japan for the Brazil 2014 showpiece.

“I remember it was a crazy atmosphere playing at Saitama Stadium,” Oar told The Daily Telegraph.

Australia’s Tommy Oar sends in a cross which looped in for a goal against Japan in Saitama in 2013. Picture: Getty Images

“It was obviously bittersweet. Before the game if someone had said to us we could take a 1-1 we would have taken it, but conceding late is always so disappointing - and it that manner.

“Looking back, to score my first Socceroos goal is an extremely proud moment, and to do it on such a nice game like that.”

Oar wouldn’t have dreamed of such circumstances, in the same way he might not have imagined he’d one day play Honda in the A-League.

“It’s crazy if you look at the clubs he’s played for and the success he’s had in his career,” Oar said.

“To bring players of his calibre to the A-League is great for the league. Everybody will be looking forward to challenging themselves against him.”

The Central Coast recruit will come face to face with the World Cup star on Sunday when the Mariners travel to Melbourne Victory looking for a first win this season.

Keisuke Honda scores from the penalty spot for Japan against Australia in their World Cup qualifier in Saitama in 2013. Picture: AFP

It’ll be no easy feat - Honda has been involved in every one of Victory’s four goals this season, a sublime skillset coach Mike Mulvey said shows he “carries” Kevin Muscat’s defending champions.

“You can see just by watching from afar he’s got great touch and vision, and he carries the club basically,” Mulvey said.

“He’s at the fulcrum of everything they do and you can see his class shining through.”

Victory’s undefeated streak against the Mariners stretches back 15 games all the way to Muscat’s first in charge.

Tommy Oar in action for the Central Coast Mariners against Adelaide United last weekend. Picture: AAP

Having lamented the lack of urgency, pressure of quickness of movement in last weekend’s sloppy 3-0 loss to Adelaide United, Mulvey emphasised the need to prove history wrong at AAMI Park.

“We know the result wasn’t good enough last week so we need to rectify that,” he said.

“It’s about character, we’ll be measured by the way we bounce back from adversity.

“What better place to do that than against the champions at their home ground?”

Get every match of the 2018/19 Hyundai A-League LIVE.

Originally published as Can Central Coast Mariners beat a Keisuke Honda-led Melbourne Victory