05-04-2025
City pile misery on Mariners thanks to Memeti strike
With their A-League Men finals hopes already dashed, Central Coast have suffered more misery at the hands of Melbourne City after a 1-0 loss.
It was all City at AAMI Park on Saturday as teenage sensation Medin Memeti led the way on the scoreboard with the 29th-minute match-winner at AAMI Park.
The home side had bamboozled the Mariners for the opener by going short with a set piece just outside the box.
Receiving the quick pass, Marco Tilio sent a slicing cross to Kai Trevin on the left flank.
Trevin drew Mariners goalkeeper Dylan Peraic-Cullen off his line and toe-poked to Memeti who buried the ball himself.
When the training ground set-piece move is executed 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 👌Medin Memeti caps off a brilliantly worked free-kick to give @MelbourneCity the lead.📺 Watch #MCYvCCM live NOW on Paramount+, 10 Play or 10 Bold.
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) April 5, 2025
Aurelio Vidmar's side are now closing in on a top-four finish in the league after securing back-to-back victories to sit third on 40 points.
With four matches remaining, 10th-placed Central Coast's finals hopes are all but shot.
Mark Jackson's men are on 25 points after suffering their eighth defeat of the season, eight points adrift of sixth-placed Adelaide United.
Poor communication between City shot-stopper Patrick Beach and centre-back German Ferreryra almost gifted an equaliser.
Beach was near the halfway line in the 52nd minute when his pass missed Ferrerya.
Central Coast striker Alou Kuol took possession and launched from long-range at an unmanned goal, but his shot went wide.
Mikael Doka tried to take matters into his own hands when he tried for goal from a free kick in the 85th minute, but the threat was palmed off by Beach.
The Mariners, looking to build after their 3-1 defeat of Perth Glory broke an eight-match winless streak, were unlucky not to find the scoreboard first after a number of early shots at goal.
Kuol had streamed downfield in the second minute to set up Christian Theoharous, but he could not add the finishing touch.
Brian Kaltak's left-footed shot was blocked six minutes later before Nathan Paull's attempt went just wide of the left post.
The reigning champions had struggled to break out of their own half in the second stanza with top-four side City exerting plenty of pressure.
They had 12 shots on target while none of the Mariners' seven strikes hit the target.
