Ten-player Melbourne Victory fought back to collect a well-deserved point against Central Coast Mariners in Sunday afternoon’s A-League Men Matchweek 3 clash.
Jordi Valadon’s first goal in the competition, an early contender for goal of the season, quickly equalised Oliver Lavale’s opener in the second half as Giovanni Savarese’s side, who had Harry Shillington sent off inside a quarter of an hour, showed tremendous heart at AAMI Park.
Victory is swiftly back into continental competition, hosting Persib Bandung in Group E of the AFC Champions League on Wednesday, November 4, kick-off 6:45pm AEDT. Tickets can be purchased now by clicking here.
Team news
The big plus for Victory was the return of Louis D’Arrigo after the midfielder worked off a minor hamstring injury that kept him out the first two matchweeks. He was one of five changes from the team that started against Persib, with Jack Duncan in between the sticks, Captain, Jason Davidson, and Guillermo May back in after missing the trip to Indonesia, and Valadon alongside D’Arrigo.
Match action
The hosts were dealt an early blow in Victoria, losing Shillington to a straight red card following a VAR review for a last-man challenge on winger Ali Auglah in the 13th minute. The defender’s dismissal forced Savarese’s hand, and Keegan Jelacic was the sacrificial lamb, making way for Philipp Ziereis.
Unsurprisingly, the Mariners fancied their chances to take another numerical advantage, but despite peppering Duncan’s goal, the gloveman stood firm, denying Auglah twice, Chris Donnell and Bailey Brandtman.
A collective regroup would follow at the interval, but the required containing job was being well executed by the Boys in Blue, who ended the opening 45 in the attacking half, but May deliveries from the left were cleared away.
Half-time: Melbourne Victory 0-0 Central Coast Mariners
This job was continued into the second 45, and although Brandtman got up to a header, his effort drifted harmlessly wide at the North End.
Fellow Mariner Lavale would, unfortunately, be more accurate when he had a sight of goal in the 63rd minute, striking a bouncing pass from Auglah beyond Duncan at the near post.
That would have flattened lesser teams, but not Victory, who equalised in style. Valadon looked short on options, only to dig out a humdinger that dipped and swerved from outside of the penalty area into the far top corner.
The AAMI Park crowd was up and about, getting under Central Coast’s skin, and both Lavale and Philipp Ziereis went into the book when some wrestling for possession spilt over on the touchline in front of the benches.
Victory went closest to taking all three points at the climax. Franco Lino launched an attempt from the edge of the box, and it took all of Andrew Redmayne’s experience and ability to turn the ball behind.
Match details
Melbourne Victory 1 (VALADON 69′)
Central Coast Mariners 1 (LAVALE 63′)
Melbourne Victory starting XI: 25. Jack DUNCAN (GK), 36. Harry Shillington (4. Philipp ZIEREIS 14′), 15. Tom LOCKYER, 3. Jason DAVIDSON (C), 18. Franco LINO, 6. Louis D’ARRIGO (10. Denis GENREAU 62′), 8. Jordi VALADON, 21. Guillermo MAY (14. Matt GRIMALDI 82′), 23. Keegan JELACIC, 11. SANTOS (29. Michael GHOSSAINI 82′), 44. Charles NDUKA.
Substitutes not used: 1. Jack WARSHAWSKY (GK), 9. Harry SAWYER, 22. Xavier STELLA.
Booking: SHILLINGTON SENT OFF 13′, ZIEREIS 73′.
Central Coast Mariners starting XI: 30. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 3. Diesel HERRINGTON, 5. Lucas MAURAGIS, 6. Haine EAMES (45. Jesse MANTELL 78′), 8. Chris DONNELL (C), 9. Oliver LAVALE (17. Presley ORTIZ 87′), 12. Noah MCCANN, 15. Storm ROUX, 37. Bailey BRANDTMAN (22. Arthur DE LIMA 78′), 39. Alex BOLTON (43. Luke BECVINOVSKI 67′), 72. Ali AUGLAH.
Substitutes not used: 50. Jai AJANOVIC (GK), 41. Shumba MUTOKOYI, 52. Isaac KWON.
Booking: DONNELL 70′, LAVALE 73′.
