Eddie VukovicWhat a Cracker!
A Cracker of a Match
Central Coast had the better of the opening exchanges, culminating in Matt Simon's well taken opener. While Petrovski was buzzing around the Victory penalty box all afternoon, it was Simon who was causing the most panic, getting into good positions and generally harrassing the defence.
Melbourne then moved up a gear, with Carlos Hernandez pulling the strings in midfield, linking up with Archie Thompson and Danny Allsopp well, and playing Thompson in for Victory's equaliser. Melbourne's attack on the Mariners goal continued with Allsopp twice going one on one with Mariners keeper and Socceroo legend, Mark Bosnich, with Bozza denying the Victory striker both times.
Melbourne put the Mariners under the kosh in a superb attacking 15 minute spell, with Bosnich outstanding, keeping the scoreline at 1-1. His cameo of class and calm kept Central Coast in the match until the game altering moment on when Michael Theoklitos was sent off by Referee Peter Green.
The footage below shows Petrovski and Theoklitos exchanging words, talking about the diverse range of wildlife in and around Gosford. Theoklitos, who isn't known for his naturalist interests, sees a giant cockroach on the field, and stamps down on it. Petrovski, a well known lover of insects, reacts, drawing the refs attention to the smeared roach guts on the goal line. Green, who is by name and nature, also an animal lover, takes offence at the keeper's lack of regard for Gosford's famous roaches and sends him packing.
So, following the Great Bug Scandal of 2008, Merrick is forced to remove one of his most potent attacking threats in Hernandez, and bring on youngster Mitch Langerak. The shape of the game has changed, and Central Coast, spurred on by Theoklitos' environmental disregard, regain the ascendency. Some fluid football by the home side sees Merrick using his tactial nous and replaces Allsopp with Brebner, in what can only be called a defensive manouevre. All this did however, is invite the Mariners in for the kill and Matt Simon again powered home a header to put the home side 2-1 up with only minutes remaining. Then, with only seconds remaining, Brebner receives a ball in the Central Coast penalty box, beats two defenders and slides the ball to Thompson, who slots it past a hapless Bosnich.
A superb end to a pulsating match, complete with goals and the obligatory red card. No sign of anyone spitting though. Simon was superb, continuing his good form, notching up a double, while Bosnich, Petrovski and Jedinak were also outstanding. For the Victory, Thompson was brilliant, buzzing around the Mariners defenders (much like the Gosford wildlife), linking up well with Allsopp and Hernandez, who was brillant before being sacrificed by Merrick. Kemp was also solid in what ahs been a good start to the season. So Melbourne are still on top, but only just with Sydney smashing the Reds 3-0 at home. The next encounter those two have at Telstra Dome will be much anticipated, as neither side really look like losing too many.
