Melbourne City cruise to fourth successive win vs. Central Coast Mariners

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:19 am

Melbourne City continued their stellar start to the season, seeing off a determined Central Coast 3-1 at AAMI Park.

Curtis Good, Adrian Luna and Rostyn Griffiths netted for the home side, while Jordan Murray struck a late consolation for the Mariners.

The victory sees City secure top spot by three points, with Western Sydney to play on Saturday night.

City grabbed the lead through Good at a set piece in the 17th minute. Craig Noone took a corner short to Lachlan Wales, who whipped a cross into a bundle of players. In the teeming rain, Good shoved his way between Dylan Fox and Ziggy Gordon to power a diving header home.

On a night where City celebrated their 10th anniversary, it was only appropriate Good -- who made a name for himself at the then-Melbourne Heart before moving to England -- was the man to break the deadlock.

Melbourne City cruised to victory against Central Coast.
Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

The Mariners largely failed to make some promising work count on the scoreboard, with their best chance a Tommy Oar strike that forced an impressive save from Dean Bouzanis in the 30th minute.

Good was then involved in his team's second goal, winning possession in defence and sending a searching ball in the direction of Connor Metcalfe. The young midfielder went on a powerful run down the left and whipped a scintillating cross in to Luna, who cleverly tapped home for his first City goal in the 60th minute.

City put the result out of reach in the 81st minute. Wales completed a quick 1-2 with Noone at a free kick, then delivered a cross into a clamouring group of players. Youngster Stefan Colakovski left the ball for Delbridge, whose attempted tap-in was parried away by Birighitti. Unfortunately for the Mariners goalkeeper, the ball fell at the feet of Griffiths, who smacked it into the back of the net to make it 3-0.

Having looked relatively toothless for most of the match, the Mariners secured a consolation goal in the 89th minute.

Kim Eun-sun headed the ball into attack, with Danny De Silva flicking it into the path of Murray. The striker finished past Bouzanis with aplomb to make it 3-1.