HYUNDAI A-League ladder leaders Central Coast Mariners head south to Victoria this weekend for Saturday’s highly anticipated round 7 game against fifth-placed Melbourne Victory.
HYUNDAI A-League ladder leaders Central Coast Mariners head south to Victoria this weekend for Saturday-s highly anticipated round 7 game against fifth-placed Melbourne Victory.
Matches between the Mariners and Victory are typically entertaining affairs. Indeed, some 60 goals (30 apiece) have been scored in all fixtures between the two sides in the history of Australia-s top flight.
Graham Arnold-s Central Coast outfit drew with Ange Postecoglou-s Melbourne Victory charges in pre-season at Knox Grammar School, Wahroonga.
In six games at Melbourne-s Etihad Stadium, the teams have won two each, while there have been two draws.
Watch out, Archie about!
Melbourne Victory-s seasoned campaigner Archie Thompson is the all-time leading goalscorer between the two clubs having netted nine goals. The Qantas Socceroo is a danger to all Hyundai A-League defenders, but Victory possess some killer attacking threats elsewhere also. Marco Rojas, Marcos Flores, Guilherme Finkler and Andrew Nabbout are just some of the players the yellow and navy will need to keep an eye on.
Yellow Trouble
John Hutchinson and Adrian Leijer play pivotal roles for their teams, but if history gives any guide of the future, both could be in for a yellow ticket this weekend. Hutchinson has been reprimanded eight times in games against Victory, while Leijer has earned the ire of the referee six times in clashes with the Mariners. Be on your best behaviour, boys!
Friends or foes?
The Qantas Socceroos and New Zealand All Whites were both in action in Asia in midweek. Interestingly enough, both camps had players from both the Mariners and Victory in them. For Australia, Tomas Rogic and Mathew Ryan (Mariners) teamed up with Archie Thompson for their 2-1 win over Korea Republic in Hwaseong. Meanwhile in Shanghai, Michael McGlinchey and Marco Rojas were united in the Kiwi cause. New Zealand drew 1-1 with China.
Central Coast Mariners Squad: 1. Mathew Ryan (Gk), 2. Daniel McBreen, 3. Joshua Rose, 4. Pedj Bojic, 5. Zachary Anderson, 6. Patrick Zwaanswijk, 7. John Hutchinson (c), 8. Adriano Pellegrino, 9. Bernie Ibini, 10. Tomas Rogic, 11. Oliver Bozanic, 14. Michael McGlinchey, 15. Brad McDonald, 16. Trent Sainsbury, 18. Nick Montgomery, 19. Mitchell Duke, 20. Justin Pasfield (Gk) 21. Mile Sterjovski, 23. Adam Kwasnik (four to be omitted)
Ins: 8. Adriano Pellegrino, 11. Oliver Bozanic, 15. Brad McDonald, 19. Mitchell Duke, 23. Adam Kwasnik
Outs: 12. Troy Hearfield
Unavailable: 12. Troy Hearfield, 22. James Oates (Ankle – 2 months)
Melbourne Victory Squad: 1. Tando Velaphi (Gk), 2. Matthew Foschini, 3. Adama Traore, 4. Petar Franjic, 5. Mark Milligan, 6. Leigh Broxham, 7. Gui Finkler, 8. Jonathan Bru, 9. Marcos Flores, 10. Archie Thompson, 11. Marco Rojas, 13. Diogo Ferreira, 14. Billy Celeski, 16. Theo Markelis, 17. Jimmy Jeggo, 19. Isaka Cernak, 23. Adrian Leijer (c), 26. Andrew Nabbout, 39. Nathan Coe (Gk) (four to be omitted)
Ins: Matthew Foschini, Theo Markelis, Isaka Cernak, Jimmy Jeggo (all promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Spase Dilevski (foot)
Statistics – Melbourne Victory vs. Central Coast Mariners
Statistics by SportsData
Overall Head to Head Record
Played 21; Melbourne Victory FC 9, Central Coast Mariners FC 7, Drawn 5
Head to Head at this venue
Played 6; Melbourne Victory FC 2, Central Coast Mariners FC 2, Drawn 2
Record Crowd These Two Clubs: 28,188
At Etihad Stadium, 03 Nov 2006, 3-all draw
Last 5 Matches Head to Head
Melbourne Victory FC 2-1, AAMI Park, 10 Feb 2012
Central Coast Mariners FC 2-0, Bluetongue Stadium, 04 Jan 2012
0-0 Bluetongue Stadium, 12 Nov 2011
Melbourne Victory FC 2-1, Bluetongue Stadium, 31 Dec 2010
2-2 AAMI Park, 18 Nov 2010
Biggest Head to Head Wins
Melbourne Victory FC 5-2, Bluetongue Stadium, 31 Dec 2007
Central Coast Mariners FC 4-0, Etihad Stadium, 07 Nov 2009
Total Goals Head to Head
Melbourne Victory FC 30, Central Coast Mariners FC 30
Total Cards Head to Head (Yellow-Red)
Melbourne Victory FC (31-5), Central Coast Mariners FC (45-5)
Top Goal Scorers Head to Head
Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory FC) 9
Matthew Simon (Central Coast Mariners FC) 6
Most Yellow Cards Head to Head
John Hutchinson (Central Coast Mariners FC) 8
Adrian Leijer (Melbourne Victory FC) 6
Melbourne Victory vs. Central Coast Mariners
Saturday 17 November, 2012
Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Kick-off: 7:45pm (AEDT)
Twitter: Join the match conversation on Twitter! The official match hash-tag for Melbourne Victory vs. Central Coast Mariners is #MVvCCM
