The Melbourne Victory have demolished the table topping Central Coast Mariners 8-1 at SS Anderson Reserve this afternoon.
The Victory’s first-half was simply sublime taking a 7-0 lead into the break as Luke O’Dea and Jimmy Jeggo completed first-half braces, while Connor Pain, Andrew Nabbout and John Buceto also got onto the scoresheet.
Chris Cristaldo added an eighth after the break, before Mitchell Duke scored a late consolidation for the visitors.
Melbourne got to a stunning start and took a massive seven-goal lead after just 39 minutes.
Pain and O’Dea linked up superbly from the kick-off before Jimmy Jeggo slotted into the bottom corner past Mariners ‘keeper David Bradasevic after just 19 seconds.
Moments later the Victory were two goals up as Nabbout tapped in from a net Buceto cutback.
Buceto capped off his sensational start with the third with an emphatic finish after Nabbout and O’Dea combined brilliantly with some quick passing down the right.
O’Dea then added the fourth coolly slotting past Bradasevic while one-on-one.
Credit to the boys and blue and white as they pushed despite the large early and were rewarded with the fifth as a super Nabbout cross was smashed home on the half volley by Pain.
The Mariner’s marking at the back was nonexistent as the fullbacks and centre-backs left far too much space for Victory’s impressive front quartet.
Nabbout on the right was showing exactly why he earned himself a senior contract with another quality cross picking out O’Dea who turned in the sixth completing his double.
Central Coast couldn’t keep the ball either, as Jimmy Jeggo won the ball back in midfield and thumped his strike into the bottom corner giving the Victory a seven goal lead into the break.
Shortly after the hour substitute Cristaldo slide home the eighth at the back post from a nice Luc Jeggo cross.
Credit to the Coasters who actually pushed despite the enormous deficit with \ Duke, but the striker’s long-range strike was claimed by Victory ‘keeper Luke Radonich on the second attempt.
Duke was finally rewarded for his efforts as the striker muscled off Jason Geria, rounded Radonich and slotted into the open net.
O’Dea was given the chance to complete his hat trick from the spot after Cristaldo was fouled by Bradasevic in the box, but the Young Socceroo’ weak effort was comfortably saved. But O’Dea did score the first penalty that was chalked off for encroachment.
