Match details
Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Victory
Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Wednesday, March 9, 2022
Kick-off: 5.05pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Preview
Melbourne Victory will look to build on one of its best performances of the season when it makes the trip to the Central Coast Mariners on Wednesday.
Victory returned to Isuzu UTE A-League action on Friday, recording an impressive 3-1 win over Macarthur.
It was Victory’s first game since February 19, when it beat the Mariners, the team it faces again on Wednesday amid a busy run of fixtures in March.
Victory produced a dominant display against Macarthur, with the win set up by Nick D’Agostino’s first-half brace.
D’Agostino’s two clinical finishes moved him onto six league goals this season, the most he has scored in a single campaign in his professional career.
A beautiful team move sealed Victory’s win in the second half as Marco Rojas opened his account for the season.
Rojas’ goal was his first since December 2020 after an injury-hit 2020/21 campaign in Victory colours.
Victory has at least a game in hand on all four teams above it heading into the second half of its league season.
Midfielder Rai Marchan is considered “day to day” in his bid to return from a facial injury, while Matt Spiranovic is set to miss the Mariners clash.
Central Coast is 10th on the table after winning four of 13 league matches.
Player in focus
Victory’s assist king with five in the league this season, Rojas deservedly got on the scoresheet in the win over Macarthur.
What they said
“It always helps when you win games, build confidence and we’ve got a lot of games coming thick and fast so it’s going to be really difficult, but a challenge that we’re up for and nice to start it with three points and move back up the ladder a little bit too.” – Victory star Rojas.
Last time
Isuzu UTE A-League 2021/22 Round 15
Melbourne Victory 1-0 Central Coast Mariners
Saturday, February 19, 2022
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Victory and the Mariners met just last month.
Nishan Velupillay got on the end of a Chris Ikonomidis cross to head in a 94th-minute winner for Victory.
Head to head
Round 15, 2021/22: Victory 1-0 Mariners at AAMI Park
Final, 2021 Australia Cup: Victory 2-1 Mariners at AAMI Park
Round 19, 2020/21: Victory 1-1 Mariners at AAMI Park
Round 14, 2020/21: Mariners 1-1 Victory at Central Coast Stadium
Round 26, 2019/20: Victory 2-3 Mariners at Jubilee Stadium
