It was a comprehensive win in the end as Melbourne Victory turned on the heat in a 10 minute spell of goals in the second half, which saw them topple Central Coast Mariners 3-0 at North Sydney Oval. Here are the match ratings from the Friday night game.
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GK: Nathan Coe – 6.5
The man in red earned his fourth clean sheet of the season in another tidy performance. Relatively untroubled between the sticks and dealt with everything that came his way.
LB: Daniel Georgievski (1 goal) – 7
The Macedonian international found the back of the net with a stunning effort in yet another reliable shift at full-back.
CB: Adrian Leijer – 7
Registered his usual game day yellow ticket following a hopeful lunging tackle but pieced together a strong 90 minutes. Looks comfortable playing alongside Broxham at the back.
CB: Leigh Broxham – 7
Continued his exceptional form this season as both a centre half and full-back. Always does the job no matter where he is required.
RB: Jason Geria – 6
Decent hit out following a return from injury and held his own when the game was in the balance. Made way for Nick Ansell five minutes after the break.
CM: Mark Milligan – 6.5
One of his more quiet nights in a blue shirt but nevertheless pulled strings in front of the back four. Showed no signs of trouble on a questionable surface.
CM: Carl Valeri – 6.5
The quiet achiever continues to fly under the radar. Consistently hit those five to ten yard passes and found himself forward more than often, striking the side netting in the first interval.
CAM: Ben Khalfallah – 8
Oozed class in the final third with some quick feet, the odd nut-meg and some raking balls. A fine replacement behind the striker for the injured Gui Finkler.
LW: Archie Thompson (1 assist) – 7.5
Archie’s still got it. Another dangerous stint on the wing by the 36-year-old, providing the assist for Berisha’s opener and troubling the Mariners back four during his 71 minutes on the pitch.
RW: Kosta Barbarouses (1 assist) – 7.5
A quality performance on the wing by the Kiwi, providing an exquisite delivery for Connor Pain to tap in Melbourne’s third. Sometimes lacked the killer ball or touched but still offered plenty up front for the visitors.<
✮ ST: Besart Berisha (1 goal) – 8 ✮
Ended a three game goal drought – if you can even call it that – with a clinical finish for Melbourne’s first. Prodded and poked all night and was eventually rewarded despite being ruled offside for his first in the opening 45 minutes.
Sub: Nick Ansell – 6
Good shift off the bench by the 20-year-old who hardly disappoints. Coming on as a right back last week, the centre half is now starting to register some valuable first team minutes under his belt.
Sub: Connor Pain – 6.5
Bagged his second goal of the season following his introduction in the 71st minute – A good confidence booster for the young forward.
Jesse Makarounas: N/A
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Votes:
3. Besart Berisha
2. Fahid Ben Khalfallah
1. Kosta Barbarouses
TCF Melbourne Medal Running Tally:
45.5 – Aaron Mooy (Melbourne City)
32.5 – Besart Berisha (Melbourne Victory)
30.5 – Damien Duff (Melbourne City)
30 – Fahid Ben Khalfallah (Melbourne Victory)
24.5 – Leigh Broxham (Melbourne Victory)
23 – Kosta Barbarouses (Melbourne Victory)
16 – Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory)
15.5 – Daniel Georgievski (Melbourne Victory)
15.5 – Adrian Leijer (Melbourne Victory)
15.5 – Dylan Murnane (Melbourne Victory)
15 – David Villa (Melbourne City)
15 – Nathan Coe (Melbourne Victory)
14.5 – Mate Dugandzic (Melbourne City)
13.5 – Jacob Melling (Melbourne City)
13.5 – Erik Paartalu (Melbourne City)
8.5 – Gui Finkler (Melbourne Victory)
8.5 – Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory)
8 – Matthieu Delpierre (Melbourne Victory)
8 – Andrew Redmayne (Melbourne City)
7.5 – Paddy Kisnorbo (Melbourne City)
6 – David Williams (Melbourne City)