If all A-League teams adopted the approach Melbourne City and Central Coast Mariners did in this game there wouldn't be concerns over crowds, TV ratings would be rising and free-to-air broadcasters might be engaged in a bidding war to cover the competition.
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Fornaroli double secures City win
A Bruno Fornaroli brace sees Melbourne City claim their first win of the A-League season, defeating the Central Coast Mariners 3-1 at AAMI Park.
City ran out 3-1 winners in an end-to-end affair that produced numerous chances for both teams. The win, their first of the season, lifts City to mid-table but the youthful Mariners team can take plenty of credit for their role in a hugely entertaining contest.
Under new coach Tony Walmsley Central Coast have a charter to entertain and to have a go, whoever they are playing, wherever that match is. The team from Gosford are not going to die wondering this season and they are intent on throwing caution to the wind. It had brought them a win and a loss leading into this encounter, but won them plenty of admirers for their gung-ho style.
Melbourne City's season began well enough with that draw in Sydney, but two defeats – the first in the derby against Melbourne Victory, the second in an FFA Cup semi-final – have dampened the mood around the City Football Academy and sparked coach John van 't Schip into making some major changes.
He dropped Erik Paartalu for the second match running, the giant midfielder not even finding a seat on the bench. Out too was young striker Wade Dekker although his omission had more to do with the demands of playing three matches in one week.
In came youngsters Steve Kuzmanovksi on one flank and Stefan Zinni on the other. Stefan Mauk was given the attacking midfield role that the injured Robert Koren has held, while the combative and more mobile Jacob Melling was brought into Paartalu's midfield spot to bolster the creative Aaron Mooy. Club captain Paddy Kisnorbo was recalled to add steel to the rearguard.
The result on Sunday was an adventurous, attacking, swashbuckling City that seized the initiative right from the start.
It seemed inevitable there would be an early goal. And it was City who got their noses in front after just minutes, appropriately enough from Kisnorbo.
Mooy's delivery from a free kick just outside the penalty area was excellent, as was the timing of Kisnorbo's run as he escaped the attentions of the Mariners defence to head past Paul Izzo, who has replaced the controversial Liam Reddy in the visitors' goal.
The Mariners' equaliser in the 13th minute was a goal to savour. Nick Fitzgerald picked up the ball 25 metres from the City goal and with time to steady and line up a shot he hit a powerful drive that Thomas Sorensen could not get near.
Zinni, making his A-League debut for City, should have put his side back in front in the 17th minute aftter a great spin by Uruguayan striker Bruno Fornaroli took him clear of his marker and allowed him to play his young teammate into space. The speedy Zinni advanced on goal but with just Izzo to beat dragged his shot wide.
Both sides continued to go at each other hammer and tongs. City made the running, Fornaroli presenting a tireless option up front, Mooy's range of passing making him a threat whenever he had the ball. The latter came close just after the half hour when Kuzamovski found him just outside the penalty area and fired just over.
But it wasn't one way traffic. Mitchell Austin's lightning pace made him dangerous every time the ball was played to him down the flanks. Fitzgerald again came close twice with two rising shots that drifted over the bar and Sorensen had to stretch to hold on to Fabio Ferreira's cross.
It was more of the same in the second half, and once again it was City who struck first in the 53rd minute. Substitute David Williams, who had replaced Zinni, sped down the right and delivered a well-weighted cross to Fornaroli, who slid in and side footed past Izzo from close range.
The Uruguayan had the ball in the net once more on the hour mark, only to be ruled out for being offside.
The visitors upped their efforts and threw men forward in search of a second equaliser, leaving them vulnerable on the break and City took full advantage. After a neat passing move Paulo Retre's through ball found Fornaroli in space and the South American fired home off Izzo's body to make the points safe in the 72nd minute.