NYL Wrap- Round- 15

Kwabena Appiah-Kubi (Mariners) battles with Kwabene Boahene, while Hernan Espindola follows up for Victory. Photo: JOHN PUNSHON

Victory holds ten-men Mariners

Melbourne Victory have held ten-men Central Coast Mariners to a 0-0 draw at Kingston Heath on Saturday afternoon.
Central Coast had the first chance of the game on six minutes when forward Mitchell Duke tested Tando Velaphi from distance but the senior goalkeeper got behind the ball to save.

On 28 minutes Velaphi again denied Duke, this time with his feet after Kwabena Appiah-Kubi’s great through ball, but it remained scoreless.

Right on the brink of half-time Victory had their best chance of the half. James Riccobene crossed a great low ball but Luke O’Dea couldn’t get on the end it, however Espindola was at the back post to shoot from a very acute angle. But Nicholas Littler was on the line to clear for the visitors.

Five minutes into the second stanza Joshua Da Silva missed a great chance from point blank range as Velaphi did enough to pressure the number eleven.

Anthony Caceres was next to try his chances from distance with a great long ranged effort but Velaphi made an outstanding save in a fantastic performance.

On 63 minutes Central Coast were down to ten. Sam Gallagher was sent off for an aggressive challenge on John Buceto as the defender went through the back of the little diminutive midfielder.

Despite having one man fewer Mariners pushed and Caceres again drove from distance but the time the effort bounced wide.

Victory went right up the other end with second-half substitute Luc Jeggo and he tested Mitchell with a fantastic effort from outside the box but Mitchell made a brilliant save to deny the 17-year-old.

On 69 minutes Nick Ansell pulled back Da Silva on the edge of the box and a penalty was awarded. However for the third time in four games Velaphi saved the penalty, this time denying Duke’s low effort.

Espindola and Jeggo caused some late problems for the ten men of Central Coast as they both shot from distance but Mitchell was in the way to make some great saves.

Dado Lokvancic almost stole all three points with four minutes to go but his long ranged curler missed by inches.

Espindola too should have won the game for the hosts but his poor finishes from Daniel Chaabani’s crosses were poor as the Argentine born winger ran out of steam before Chaabani too shot over.

Melbourne Victory coach Darren Davies was pleased with a point against the league leaders. “I think performance wise I was actually very happy. I think we probably passed the ball better than we did against the Heart the week before when we got a win so I was actually really, really pleased considering they are top of the league.”

 Heart and Reds finish in red stalemate

Melbourne Heart and Adelaide United have finished 1-1 with both sides down to ten after a fiery tie at John Cain Memorial Park on Sunday afternoon.

Melbourne Heart thought they opened the scoring on four minutes but Fred’s tap in from a couple yards out was ruled out for offside.

Adelaide went very close too on 11 minutes. Awer Mabil shot with the outside of his foot from 25 yards out but his fantastic effort hit the crossbar.

On 14 minutes The Reds were down to ten when Jonathan Mavromatis was given a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Brodie Patterson.

Zac Walker opened the scoring on 24 minutes to give the hosts the lead. Bosnjak’s effort was deflected and fell for Walker who finished into the bottom corner.

With less than ten minutes to go before half-time Adelaide hit the woodwork once again with Liam Wooding whose right-footed curling effort looked destined for goal.

Heart went right up the other with Jeremy Walker whose great cross was headed towards goal by first-half substitute Stipo Andrijasevic but Vaughan made a great save once again.

Five minutes into the second stanza Teeboy Kamara equalised with a tap-in after Mabil’s low cross.

Soon later Kamara should have scored a two minute brace but Thomas Dunn saved well to deny the Liberian born forward.

On 70 minutes both sides were down to ten when Andrijasevic was sent off with a doubled-footed, reckless challenge.

Patterson next danced into the box with five minutes left but he couldn’t finish and as the ball fell for Zac Walker the forward’s effort too was blocked.

The ball then fell for Kliment Taseski who played his first game of the season after a fractured foot. He was found on the right side of the box but his left foot curling effort went agonisingly wide of Vaughan’s net.

Jets vs. Gold Coast United abandoned
Friday’s night clash between Newcastle Jets and Gold Coast United at Adamstown Oval was abandoned after just 15 minutes of play.

There was a huge storm before kick-off which made the first 15 minutes unsafe for the players and once Mitch Cooper slipped the referee Andrew Higgins called it off.

The game will be rescheduled at a date to be advised.

Harry O’Brien brace snatched win for Glory
A Harry O’Brien brace has snatched all three points at Sydney Football Stadium for the visitors Perth Glory on Saturday.

Sydney had the opening chance of the game when Blake Powell shot but Lewis Italiano made a good save.

Soon after Powell tried again, this time from distance but Italiano made another great save to keep it scoreless.

Ndumba Makeche got to the ball first soon later but fired across the face of goal to give Perth their first chance.

Just before half-time Harry O’Brien opened the scoring from close range against the run of the play.

On 65 minutes Sydney were down to ten when Daniel Petkovski was sent off for shoving Makeche.

But four minutes later the ten-man Sydney equalised when Caleb Rufer’s strike was saved by Italiano which was followed-up by Jason Madonis who slotted home.

O’Brien however had the last say when he fired past Ryan Norval in stoppage time to take all three points.

Roar smash the AIS
Brisbane Roar on Saturday at the AIS Track have smashed the AIS 11-2 with hat-tricks to Issey Nakajima-Farran, Anthony Proia and Matthew Thurtell.

Proia opened the scoring on 14 minutes when finished past Jordan Thurtell after great lead up work by Nakajima-Farran.

90 seconds later Nakajima-Farran scored his first with a powerful finish into the top corner.

On 24 minutes Proia was pushed over in the box and Kofi Danning stepped up and extended the lead.

But the AIS got one back thanks to John Karatzas who drove his effort past Matthew Acton in goals.

Nakajima-Farran next cut back to Proia who scored from close range. 4-1 if you have lost the score.

Proia then scored his hat-trick just before the break. The AIS graduate ran through the defence and slotted past Jordan Thurtell.

Four minutes into the second stanza Nakajima made it 6-1 with a tap in at the back post.

Less than two minutes later Matthew Thurtell scored his first with a firs time effort which was deflected.

On 54 minutes Nakajima-Farran scored his hat-trick as his effort came off the upright before crossing the line.

Stefan Mauk did get one back on 73 minutes with a good finish.

With the minutes to go Matthew Thurtell made it 9-2 with his second on the third attempt.

Jason Geria made it 10-2 with a good finish after a quick free-kick.

In stoppage time Matthew Thurtell scored his hat-trick to finish it up 11-2.

Results
Newcastle Jets Vs Gold Coast United     
Melbourne Victory 0-0 CC Mariners    
AIS 2-11 Brisbane Roar   
Sydney FC 1-2 Perth Glory    
Melbourne Heart 1-1 Adelaide United

NYL Standings P   W  D   L    F    A   GD  Pts
1 CC Mariners             16  10  2   4   35   13  22   32
2 Perth Glory             15   8   5   2   33   26   7   29
3 Brisbane Roar          15   7   4   4   44   30  14   25
4 Gold Coast United    14   7   2   5   30   24   6   23
5 Sydney FC              15   6   3   6   35   26   9   21
6 Melbourne Heart     16   6   2   8   28   35   -7   20
7 Newcastle Jets       14   5   4   5   24   23    1   19
8 Adelaide United      15   4   5   6   21   28   -7   17
9 AIS                       15   4   1  10  25   50  -25  13
10 Melbourne Victory 15   3   2  10  13   32  -19  11

Next Round

Sat 18 Feb 3:00pm
Melbourne Heart Vs  AIS
John Cain Memorial Park, Thornbury 

Sat 18 Feb 4:30pm
Adelaide United Vs  Sydney FC
Burton Park

Sun 19 Feb 3:00pm
Brisbane Roar Vs Melbourne Victory
Cleveland Showgrounds, Cleveland

Sun 19 Feb  4:00pm
Gold Coast United  Vs CC Mariners
Owen Park, Southport

Sun 19 Feb  5:00pm
Perth Glory Vs  Newcastle Jets
6PR Stadium, Inglewood