A David Williams double wasn’t enough for Melbourne Heart to earn victory as they played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with reigning premiers Central Coast Mariners.
A pair of late penalties to Marcos Flores cancelled out Williams second half brace as Central Coast overcame a two-goal deficit.
The four goal second half was a stark contrast to the dull and listless first half on show at AAMI Park.
Heart’s best chances of the half fell to Iain Ramsay who hit the side netting twice from the left side. For the Mariners, centre back Trent Sainsbury came closest with a looping header onto the crossbar. His half volley on the stroke of half time drifted just wide of the post, denying Central Coast the lead going into the break.
A burst of pressure early in the second half saw Melbourne hit the back of the net three times. Ramsay was rightly called offside after slotting home what seemed to be the opener. A delicate through ball from the dangerous Williams was controlled by Ramsay who slotted home from inside the box to no avail.
Heart’s false start was amended in the 54th minute as Williams opened his team’s tally for the new season. Mariners keeper Justin Pasfield was only able to parry Golgol Mebrahtu’s bouncing effort into the path of Williams, who took a touch past the keeper, slotting into an open net.
Five minutes later and Heart had doubled their lead. The industrious Williams won the ball off Montgomery in the midfield to start a sharp counter-attacking move that found its way to Ramsay on the left wing. A low squaring ball back to Williams was finished coolly to cap off a great team effort.
Referee Ben Williams then found himself the centre of attention as he paid the Mariners two penalties and denied them one in the space of 12 minutes. Much like the offside goal foreshadowing Heart’s two strikes, the Mariners had a penalty cry turned down when the impressive Storm Roux was sandwiched by two Melbourne defenders in the box.
Central Coast weren’t to be denied the second time as Patrick Kisnorbo was penalised for holding Matt Simon from a corner kick, mere seconds after being warned for doing the same thing. Flores made no mistake from the spot as he slotted home low into the left corner, beating a diving Redmayne who went the right way.
With 15 minutes to play, Central Coast were given another penalty, this time for a hand-ball against Patrick Gerhardt, who had been on the pitch for all of a minute. Flores sent Redmayne the wrong way as he slotted home his second of the evening.
Melbourne Heart coach John Aloisi was disappointed at the fashion in which his side gave up the lead, showing great displeasure at the apparent softness of the penalty decisions.
“If they create an opportunity, a chance then you have to accept that they’re going to score but when there’s nothing dangerous about the play, especially the first [penalty decision],” Aloisi said post-game
“The second one I didn’t see… I didn’t see Patrick Gerhardt move his hand towards the ball so then again I don’t think that’s a penalty.”
Heart and Aloisi will take plenty out of the match, keeping last years champions relatively quiet, whilst getting the most out of their pacey front quartet of Mebrahtu, Ramsay, Dugandzic and Williams. The long trip to Perth beckons for Heart next week, whilst Central Coast host Adelaide United on Saturday.