Melbourne Victory scored three goals in the final 30 minutes at the North Sydney Oval to clinch a 3-0 win over Central Coast Mariners in the A-League this morning.
Archie Thompson had a chance to put the visitors ahead early on, setting up Besart Berisha for a shot, but Liam Reddy made the save for the Mariners.
Carl Valeri and Fahib Be Khalfallah also put the hosts under pressure in the opening 20 minutes, but Melbourne could not find the back of the net.
Berisha thought that he had opened the scoring when he drilled the ball in low midway through the opening period, but his finish was ruled out for offside.
Richard Vernes had the best chance of the first half for the home side, but his powerful strike did not get the better of Nathan Coe in the Victory goal.
The visitors continued to look the more likely after the restart, and opened the scoring with just over an hour on the clock when Berisha fired in from a Thompson through-ball.
Anthony Caceres tried to set up an immediate equaliser for Central Coast, but Vernes volleyed the ball well high of the crossbar.
The visitors doubled their lead just five minutes after breaking the deadlock though, as Daniel Georgievski picked out the top corner with a rocket from 20 yards out.
Connor Pain put the win beyond doubt with his first touch after coming off the bench, tapping in from a Kosta Barbarouses cross.
The result moves Victory up to second in the table, just a point behind leaders Perth Glory.
Sian Cowper
