Huge reward for City’s latest win

Melbourne City have officially secured their first ever piece of A-League silverware in their 11-year history, securing the Premiers Plate with a dramatic 1-0 win over the Central Coast Mariners.

Craig Noone’s second-half header was enough for City to see-off their dogged opponents who made the going difficult.

However, it was almost snatched away as referee Shaun Evans awarded a late Central Coast penalty after Aiden O’Neill was seen to have fouled Mark Birighitti.

After VAR intervention, the penalty was rubbed out – sending the Melbourne faithful into delirium.

The win opens up a ten-point chasm on top of the table, while also securing home-field advantage throughout the finals.

Heading into the final stretch of games, Central Coast still sits in third place but is only five points clear of seventh-placed Wellington as they look to secure their first finals appearance since 2013.

Immediately, City were on the front-foot as Noone teed up Jamie Maclaren for two early chances within the opening five minutes, but he was unable to divert either of his efforts on target.

City continued to push for an opener after the break and yet again Noone was in the thick of it, finding Aiden O’Neill from a short-corner routine but the midfielder narrowly missed the mark with his header.

The Englishman’s impressive performance would finally be rewarded, but this time he was the one to find the net.

After the Mariners failed to clear the lines, Marco Tilio played through Luna, who found Noone at the back-post to nod home Melbourne’s much-needed breakthrough.

With time expiring, Ruon Tongyik’s botched clearance ricocheted in off Maclaren’s trailing leg to give City a momentary two-goal advantage, but it was rubbed away due to VAR intervention for a handball.

The Mariners pushed City but weren’t good enough to equalise. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)Source:Getty Images

VAR proves pivotal

A first-ever piece of A-League silverware was almost snatched away in the most heartbreaking way possible for Melbourne City.

After having a second goal disallowed because of VAR intervention moments prior, the Mariners were almost gifted a late penalty with time expiring.

This time, however, VAR was on City’s side – as Shaun Evans ruled-away the penalty thus kicking off the festivities for the thousands inside a raucous AAMI Park.

Noone delivers

When City needed someone to step through the mire and deliver all three points, Craig Noone was the one who did just that.

The Englishman was Melbourne’s clear man of the match, stepping up when his side needed him with an impressive burst at the start of the second half which was capped off with an impressive header to the ecstasy of the City fans behind the goal.

With Jamie Maclaren all but set for Socceroos duty and Andrew Nabbout missing through injury, Noone may be the only ‘first-choice’ attacker Patrick Kisnorbo will have at his disposal come finals time.

Colossal Ruon

Ruon Tongyik may be the most improved player in the A-League this season.

The Mariners defender has been a constant throughout Central Coast’s rise up the table and again put in a masterful display at the back – completely nullifying the impact of sharpshooter Jamie Maclaren.

After a series of false dawns at other clubs, the 24-year-old looks to have finally settled in Gosford and become arguably one of the side’s most important players.

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