Melbourne Victory Men toppled the Central Coast Mariners 3-0 in an excellent display at AAMI Park.
Returning to home soil, Arthur Diles made three changes to his starting XI that snatched a late point in Brisbane.
Bruno Fornaroli, Daniel Arzani and Nishan Velupillay were all promoted to the starting lineup from the bench, eager to cement their place in a strong squad.
Victory came out firing from the gates, applying significant pressure to the Mariners by keeping them largely pinned in their defensive half.
The forward pressing paid off early doors after the visitors turned the ball over just outside their defensive box.
Nishan Velupillay was the first to react to the loose ball, finding the bottom right corner to provide the Vuck with a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute.
It was a clinical opening from Victory who grabbed a crucial early lead in the fixture, continuing to pile pressure for a second.
A volleyed effort from Kasey Bos flew narrowly over the bar, while Bruno Fornaroli almost netted an audacious bicycle kick soon after.
Another chance arose for Bruno after a perfectly timed run found well by Brendan Hamill’s deftly weighted pass over the top of the Mariners’ defensive line.
The 37-year-old forward turned Brian Kaltak inside out to create space for an excellent finish into the back of the net on the brink of halftime.
Victory remained unchanged for the second 45, pushing for control of the game to be sustained as the visitors fought for a way back into the game.
The Vuck did so extremely well, maintaining 60% of possession while not allowing the Mariners to register a single shot at goal in the second half.
Arthur Diles called upon Lachlan Jackson and Alex Badolato just past the hour mark, with the latter making his debut in Navy Blue after an impressive Asian Cup campaign with the Young Socceroos.
Jackson joined a rock-solid defensive unit, while Badolato impressed with excellent interplay and quick thinking in tight spaces.
Chances continued to arise for Victory who later called upon Zinèdine Machach, Santos and Nikos Vergos from the bench.
Machach unleashed an absolute missile from outside the box early in the five additional minutes, riffling into the top corner and delivering Victory a well-deserved 3-0 win.
The referee shortly after blew the whistle on the game and Victory claimed an important three points that saw them jump up to fourth in the Isuzu Ute A-League ladder.
The result also represented an eighth clean sheet recorded by the Navy Blue, the second most recorded in the league this season.
Victory head back on the road for their upcoming match, facing the Western Sydney Wanderers in a crucial game for the top six race on Saturday, March 15.
Match Details
Isuzu Ute A-League Round 22
Melbourne Victory 3 (Velupillay 9′, Fornaroli 41′, Machach 90+2′)
Central Coast Mariners 0
Melbourne Victory Starting XI: 1. Mitch LANGERAK (GK), 5. Brendan HAMILL, 6. Ryan TEAGUE, 7. Daniel ARZANI, 10. Bruno FORNAROLI, 14. Jordi VALADON, 17. Nishan VELUPILLAY, 21. Roderick MIRANDA (C), 22. Josh RAWLINS, 27. Reno PISCOPO, 28. Kasey BOS
Substitutes: 30. Daniel GRASKOSKI (GK), 4. Lachlan JACKSON (64′), 8. Zinèdine MACHACH (75′), 9. Nikos VERGOS (85′), 11. SANTOS (75′), 19. Jing REEC, 23. Alex BADOLATO (65′)
Central Coast Starting XI: 40. Dylan PERAIC-CULLEN (GK), 3. Brian KALTAK, 4. Trent SAINSBURY (C), 10. Mikael DOKA, 11. Vitor FEIJÃO, 12. Lucas MAURAGIS, 15. Storm ROUX, 16. Harry STEELE, 23. Miguel DI PIZIO, 33. Nathan PAULL, 36. Haine EAMES
Substitutes: 30. Jack WARSHAWSKY (GK), 7. Christian THEOHAROUS (46′), 21. Abdul FAISAL (73′), 24. Diesel HERRINGTON (73′), 27. Sasha KUZEVSKI (46′), 29. Nico DUARTE (46′), 44. Lucas SCICLUNA
