Central Coast Mariners 0-0 Melbourne City
by Kieran Yap (31/12/24)
Above: Alexia Apostolakis in action for Melbourne City. Photo: Melbourne City.
Central Coast Mariners climbed into fourth place after a 0-0 draw with Melbourne City on New Year’s Eve. Emily Husband’s team combined tactical discipline with mixed luck to secure the draw against the still-undefeated premiers.
Sometimes a scoreless draw can be a boring affair, where both teams neutralise each other, or one is afraid to attack while the other content to defend. This was not that.
The contest between the Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne City was fascinating even if it reinforced what we already know about these two sides. The Mariners are well organized with versatile, disciplined players, some of whom can break a game open in a moment, and City are still the league’s most dangerous side, even if they missed two charitable chances to win this game.
Central Coast fielded a slightly makeshift lineup. Irish attacker Sarah Rowe started at right back and midfielder Bianca Galic dropped into centre back to take the place of the injured Ash Irwin.
City shuffled their lineup for the midweek game too. Captain Rebekah Stott started on the bench, with Alexia Apostolakis moving into central defence and Bryleeh Henry returning to fullback.
Although City largely controlled possession for the first half, chances were few. The Mariners condensed the midfield area and restricted playing space. Passes had to be fast and accurate to play through the midfield and although City were aggressive, turnovers were common.
Central Coast were able to largely neutralise Lourdes Bosch, with Tess Quilligan quickly shifting wide to help Rowe deal with the tricky winger. Kathryn Harvey created space for herself, but saw her shot on the turn easily saved by Sarah Langman.
For Central Coast, Taylor Ray marshalled the midfield, and her passing was as impressive as always. Since joining Emily Husband’s side from Sydney FC she has been able to show off her full range of passing and quick decision making. Ray has become crucial to the attack as a deep lying playmaker, adding to her previous reputation as a midfield enforcer.
Peta Trimis looked to be the home side’s most dangerous weapon in the final third, a spectacular athletic effort saw her run out of bounds around the fullback to reach the ball first and cross. Unfortunately for her, City were able to clear.
Melbourne City came closest to scoring when Leticia McKenna’s long-range effort rattled the crossbar. The visitors then looked to star substitute Holly McNamara to break the deadlock with almost immediate and repeated effect.
McNamara’s decisiveness quickly earned a penalty, although the initial foul did look outside of the area, and the referee did seem apprehensive to point to the spot at first. In the end, Langman saved strongly from Rhianna Pollicina’s shot, and the scores stayed level.
City were granted another chance, after McNamara was fouled once again inside the area. This time duties fell to Mariana Speckmaier who dragged her effort wide.
The three best chances fell to City and they will feel like it was two points lost, but escaping Gosford with a draw against this side is still an OK result. Central Coast have only lost twice this season and look well worth their ladder position.
Beating them is becoming increasingly difficult and is somewhat of a test of a side’s legitimacy as a Finals team. That they can still perform even missing several regular starters is another reason to admire them and this match.
City will have lost no admirers with this game, and although they likely head home frustrated, they have maintained their position at the top of the table by four points and their undefeated record remains intact.
For now, they stand with Brisbane Roar as the league’s in-form team.
Teams: CENTRAL COAST MARINERS (4-2-3-1): Langman, Rowe, Galic, Nash, Martin, Quilligan, Ray, Pennock, Nunn, Trimis, Rasmussen. Substitutes: Fuller, Puxty, McMahon, Evans, Carmichael.
MELBOURNE CITY (4-4-2): Mieres, Henry, Apostolakis, Otto, Roestbakken, Speckmaier, Hughes, McKenna, Bosch, Pollicina, Harvey. Substitutes: McNamara, McMahon, Davidson, Stott, Barbieri.
Referee: Georgia Ghiradello
Attendance: 5,108.
Follow Impetus on social media –
Twitter (X): @impetusfootball TikTok: @impetusfootball
Instagram: @impetusfootball
impetusfootball.org 