Melbourne Victory visit Central Coast Mariners in Round 15 of the Isuzu UTE A-League on Sunday, February 1, kick-off 5pm AEDT.
The first league meeting in nearly 11 months takes place at polytec Stadium, where the teams played out a goalless draw on the opening weekend of the 2024/25 season.
Victory head into this match, the 61st ALM clash, boosted by their thrashing of Sydney FC in the latest episode of the Big Blue at AAMI Park.
Central Coast were not in the winners’ circle last time out, but did come from behind twice to claim a very credible draw away to defending Champions Auckland FC.
The Boys in Blue
Melbourne Victory jet up to Gosford fresh from what is debatably their best performance of the current campaign, making a real statement in the way they dismantled a Sydney FC side that could have jumped into top spot with a win.
The hat-trick of assists supplied by Spanish World Cup winner Juan Mata snatched the headlines, with him now boasting a competition-leading seven assists this term.
But praise has to be reserved for the recipient of one of these – Santos. He netted a double against the Sky Blues, launching Arthur Diles’ side into a two-goal lead from which they did not look back.
The Brazilian’s strikes took his season tally to four, a total matched by fellow attacker Keegan Jelacic, who scored a sumptuous third for the Boys in Blue before they pulled further clear of the visitors when Lachlan Jackson bagged his first goal for the Club.
He was part of a rear-guard effort that recorded a fourth clean sheet of 2025/26, with the shutout being the first for young goalkeeper Jack Warshawsky on his third successive start since debuting against Western Sydney Wanderers earlier in January.
Another player edging closer to his Victory bow is Japanese striker Charles Nduka, after he featured in the NPL team’s latest pre-season fixture last weekend.
Victory will enjoy the return of Captain Roderick Miranda, added to the squad following his recovery from injury.
Round 15 Squad: 2. Jason DAVIDSON, 4. Lachlan JACKSON, 7. Reno PISCOPO, 8. Jordi VALADON, 9. Nikolaos VERGOS, 10. Denis GENREAU, 11. Clerismario SANTOS RODRIGUES, 14. Matthew GRIMALDI, 15. Sebastian ESPOSITO, 16. Joshua INSERRA, 17. Nishan VELUPILLAY, 19. Jing REEC, 21. Roderick MIRANDA, 22. Joshua RAWLINS, 23. Keegan JELACIC, 25. Jack DUNCAN, 27. Louis D’ARRIGO, 40. Jack WARSHAWSKY, 44. Charles NDUKA, 64. Juan MATA
Ins: 21. Roderick MIRANDA
Unavailable: 5. Brendan HAMILL (injured)
The Mariners
In a challenging campaign, Central Coast Mariners, currently ranked 12th in the standings, are seeking to avoid the wooden spoon just two years after winning their third Premiership.
And their bid to climb the ladder was dealt a blow when striker Ryan Edmondson, the 2024 Joe Marston Medal winner, left the club this week, subsequently joining St. Patrick’s Athletic in Ireland.
Despite winning just one of their last ten outings, the beginning of 2026 has been more positive than not on the field. They thumped Adelaide United by four at Coopers Stadium at the start of the year, and bounced back from defeat away to Perth Glory by taking points off Macarthur FC and Auckland FC.
The latter was a memorable occasion for Oliver Lavale. The 20-year-old signed from South Melbourne during the transfer window and scored both of the Mariners’ goals across the ditch on just his second appearance.
Sunday’s hosts have also added Sydney Olympic duo Ali Auglah and Chris Donnell and Nathanael Blair from Perth Glory to Warren Moon’s squad.
Run it back
Melbourne Victory comfortably beat Central Coast Mariners 3-0 at AAMI Park last March.
The irresistible Nishan Velupillay opened the scoring in the ninth minute after a successful press from the front by Victory, and they had more success attacking as the half rounded out, when Bruno Fornaroli doubled the advantage.
Having limited the Mariners to just one shot in the entire match, Arthur Diles’ team would score a third in stoppage time courtesy of a long-range rocket from Zinedine Machach.
Last time out
It was a Big Blue to remember on Monday as a commanding Melbourne Victory defeated Sydney FC to nil.
The hosts, thrice seeing goals disallowed, finally went in front for real when Santos, who had a finish ruled offside during the first half, picked out the top corner with a stunning curling shot.
He swiftly added his and Victory’s second, speeding through and producing a composed finish past Harrison Devenish-Meares before substitute Keegan Jelacic swept in number three.
Lachlan Jackson made it 4-0 in the closing exchanges, heading home Juan Mata’s corner delivery as the Spaniard ended the game with a trio of assists to his name.
Central Coast Mariners played out a score draw versus Auckland FC at Go Media Stadium last Saturday.
The Mariners were dealt a blow when they conceded an early Jesse Randall goal, but a slick finish from January capture Oliver Lavale brought the game back level on the stroke of half-time.
Auckland’s towering striker Sam Cosgrove helped the hosts reclaim the lead approaching the hour mark, but it would be Lavale again equalising for the Mariners, this time in the 89th minute following a mistake from goalkeeper Michael Woud.
