News site of the year

Sport
  1. Home
  2. Sport
  3. Football

Cahill double sees Melbourne City home over 10-man Mariners

Michael Lynch

It was the win they had to have – only their second in seven weeks – but Melbourne City lacked the killer touch in a 2-1 victory over a Central Coast Mariners side that played for well over an hour with 10 men following the sending off of striker Roy O'Donovan.

A Tim Cahill double, one at either end of the first half, was enough to secure the win which brings City to within six points of cross-town rivals Melbourne Victory, whom they will meet in the final derby of the regular season on February 4.

Up Next

Williams sisters to meet in Open final

null
Video duration
01:24

More Sports HQ Videos

null
Video duration
01:24

Williams sisters to meet in Open final
null
Video duration
01:30

Sydney take honours in top two clash
null
Video duration
00:55

Akil Mitchell suffers horrific eye injury
null
Video duration
00:39

How did Eddie get his black eye?
More videos

Cahill double sinks 10-man Mariners

Tim Cahill submitted a Thursday night masterclass at AAMI Park to put Melbourne City back on track.

While City monopolised possession and rained in shots they struggled to find a way to turn their domination on the park into domination on the scoreboard. 

In the end they held on easily enough, but with this City side there is always the fear that their lack of ruthlessness could let an outplayed opponent back into the game. If they are to be a title challenger they will have to develop the cutting edge they currently lack.

The Mariners were on the back foot right from kick off as Bruno Fornaroli robbed defender Harry Ascroft, forcing the centre back to foul him and give away a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the area.

It was to prove a costly error, as from the resultant set piece City took the lead – with a training-ground routine elegant in its simplicity and highly effective in its execution.

Advertisement

Nicolas Colazo ran over the ball, leaving it to Luke Brattan. With the Mariners defence expecting a lofted ball aimed for the head of Tim Cahill, Brattan instead drove the ball low on the ground and away from goal. Cahill meanwhile had sprinted to meet Brattan's pass and side foot home. It was a variation on Cahill's usual performance from a corner when he normally finds space away from defenders to score with his head.

A quick reply was not in the script,  but that's what came courtesy of some slack defending by City.

Nick Montgomery drove through midfield unchallenged and slipped a pass to Connor Pain. The former Victory winger O'Donovan, who was left completely unmarked close to goal. The big Irishman needed little invitation to smash home an unexpected ninth-minute equaliser.

O'Donovan had put the Mariners back in the contest, but his rashness 14 minutes later was to leave them facing an uphill battle just at a time they were pressing high, working hard and looking to contain City.

The striker led with his elbow in an aerial contest with City defender Michael Jakobsen. When the assistant flagged, referee Daniel Elder took his advice and showed a red card, dismissing the Mariners most potent weapon with some 67 minutes left in this game.

City, wearing black armbands in memory of Joop Van't Schip (the father of John Van't Schip) who died hours before this game kicked off, then laid siege to the Mariners goal but the hosts just couldn't find a final touch or shot wide on numerous occasions.

Fornaroli just failed to get on the end of a Bruce Kamau cross. Cahill headed wide, Colazo fizzed a shot just past the post and then Mariners goalkeeper Paul Izzo flung himself to push a Neil Kilkenny long range effort over the bar.

From the corner Izzo again saved, the ball was scrambled clear but only to Brattan. The midfielder flighted a cross back into the danger zone and Cahill, once more, found space to head City back into the lead in the 39th minute.

It promised to be a long second half for Izzo and his undermanned team, and the goalkeeper was forced to make another good save in the 52nd minute when Ivan Franjic was played through on the right, driving a shot which Izzo parried at his near post.

Colazo again came close near the hour mark, striking the woodwork for a second time.  Brattan then forced another good diving save from Izzo as City camped around the Mariners penalty area.

The Mariners opportunities were few and far between, Trent Bughagiar firing over in a rare attack and then Pain shooting wide as City scrambled to get back.

Substitute Fernando Brandan spurned a glorious chance when he headed over a Colazo cross with the goal gaping and Izzo proved equal to everything else that came his way as City huffed and puffed but failed to add to their total.