Melbourne Victory squander chances in 1-1 draw to Central Coast Mariners

MELBOURNE Victory has only itself to blame for not recording a fourth-straight win after dominating the Central Coast Mariners until the match turned after the drinks break in the second half.

Mariners striker Asdrubal beats Victory defender Mark Milligan in the air. Picture: Getty Images

PAUL Okon has his name all over the point his Central Coast side pocketed in Geelong.

Melbourne Victory was good value for its 1-0 lead over the Mariners, such was the plethora of chances it created at its home away from home.

But at the second-half drinks break the visitors seized their chance.

Blake Powell came on for striker Asdrubal, while Lachlan Wales replaced winger Kwabena Appiah.

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And then, having switched to a 4-4-2, the Mariners pounced on the flat-footed Victory within seconds of the restart, with Wales setting up Powell’s tap in after a charging run down the left.

This was a night full of missed opportunities for Victory on and off the pitch.

On the pitch they only had themselves to blame for not recording a fourth-straight win, as its fearsome attack fluffed its lines at the most crucial times.

Besart Berisha scored a stunning goal for Victory. Picture: AAP

Even Mariners coach Paul Okon said a “fair result would have been a win for Victory” such was the host’s dominance.

“We rode our luck a bit tonight,” Okon said.

Muscat agreed.

“There was so much to like,” Muscat said.

“It was an exceptional performance.

“A lot has been spoken about the conditions, but the players, I didn’t hear them speak about it once.

“Right from the outset we were aggressive in our demeanour and our attitude.

“It was as dominant a performance as we’ve had this year.”

Asked if the drinks break resulted in a lapse in concentration, Muscat said “who knows”, but added: “it was pre-arranged, so I’m not going to use that as an excuse”.

Besart Berisha opened the scoring in the 49th minute with a trademark left-footed strike, but the A-League’s all-time leading scorer also inexplicably missed a tap-in in the 17th minute that he should bury 100 times out of 100.

Kosta Barbarouses, brilliant except for his finishing, hit the underside of the crossbar in the 27th minute, Leroy George blasted wide in the 41st and James Troisi shot straight at Ben Kennedy from a similarly enticing position in the 57th.

If Barbarouses had his time again he’d have shot rather than tried to square for Troisi in the 64th minute, but substitute Jai Ingham saved the best — or worst — for last when, with one of the last kicks of the game, he scuffed a golden opportunity to score from all of three metres with Kennedy stranded.

Victory players have a drink during a break in the first half. Picture: AAP

Off the field it was Mother Nature that left Victory ruing a poor attendance in the fourth A-League game played at Kardinia Park.

It was a sweltering 44 degrees in Geelong at about 4.30pm.

Thankfully for the players the temperature started to plummet by 5.20pm and by kick-off it was a more bareable — albeit still uncomfortable — 28.

Muscat said he was confident all his players can back up in Wellington on Wednesday after the slugfest in sweltering conditions.

Only captain Carl Valeri, who picked up his fifth yellow card of the season, is unavailable.

Central defender Rhys Williams returns from a suspension of his own, which will likely see Mark Milligan shift back into midfield to partner Matias Sanchez, or hand a first Victory start to new recruit Terry Antonis, who came on off the bench.

The game was also played on a ground that staged a Twenty20 cricket match 72 hours earlier, but Muscat said the pitch was fine and would not hamper recovery efforts ahead of the Phoenix trip.

While the match was able to go ahead as scheduled — with its 25-minute delay — the damage had already been done in the stands, with fans staying away in droves.

The scheduling seemed perfect, and was earlier lauded for giving holidaygoers the best chance of attending, only for it to fall on the one summer scorcher Melbourne has had so far.

Berisha’s goal, his sixth of the season, came after a diagonal run from the right touchline.

With three Mariners defenders for company, the Kosovo international somehow found space to lash home with his left boot from the top of the box.

Barbarouses and Jason Geria were again a menacing force down the right hand side, while Wout Brama and Tom Hiariej were superb in midfield for the Mariners.

Originally published as Melbourne Victory squander chances in 1-1 draw to Central Coast Mariners