Melbourne Victory’s pre-season campaign has ended with a 2-0 defeat to Central Coast Mariners.
Played behind closed doors at AAMI Park on Wednesday afternoon, goals to Asdrubal and Wout Brama sealed the result.
Victory started well and had the majority of chances in the first half an hour, with James Troisi and Mitch Austin going the closest to opening the tally.
But in the shadows of half time it was the visitors who struck first, with Asdrubal finishing smartly after getting on the end of a through ball from Antony Golec.
Victory made a number of half time substitutions, with Mark Milligan, Kosta Barbarouses and James Troisi replaced by Matias Sanchez, Jai Ingham and Josh Hope respectively.
The Mariners carried their momentum over after the restart, forcing Lawrence Thomas into a series of sharp saves.
Victory responded, and it looked like Ingham had found the equaliser, but a sprawling, full-stretch save from Ben Kennedy preserved the Mariners’ lead.
Rhys Williams and Thomas Deng were forced off in quick succession after the hour mark with minor head knocks, and it was with less than 15 minutes to go that the Mariners found a second goal.
Tom Hiariej’s ball into the box found Brama, and his looping header left Thomas stranded as it snuck under the crossbar.
Result
Melbourne Victory 0
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Asdrubal 40’, Hiariej 78’)
Line-ups
Victory: Thomas, Broxham, Williams, Donachie, Geria, Valeri, Milligan, Troisi, Austin, Berisha, Barbarouses
Subs: Acton, Deng, Sanchez, Hope, Waring, Nigro, Ingham, McGilp
Mariners: Glover, J Rose, Golec, Baro, Roux, De Silva, Brama, Hiariej, Hoole, Pain, Asdrubal
Subs: Kennedy, L Rose, Appiah, Bingham, Rowles, McGing, Berry, Buhagiar
