MELBOURNE Heart surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 against A-League champions Central Coast Mariners.
A David Williams brace was cancelled out by two goals from former Melbourne Victory marquee Marcos Flores, both penalties in front of 8734 at AAMI Park.
It wasn’t the first time Heart threw away a lead but they could certainly count themselves unlucky with referee Ben Williams awarding a soft spot kick that allowed the Mariners back into the contest.
An uneventful final first half preceded a chaotic second where four goals, two penalties and several yellow cards were dished out as tensions grew.
Heart’s pace up front allowed them to start conservatively and pick their moments to attack, hitting the Mariners in a six-minute second half blitz.
Mariners keeper Justin Pasfield fumbled Mebrahtu’s long-range strike and Williams pounced first before rounding the Mariners keeper and tapping it into the empty net in the 54th minute.
| P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brisbane | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| 2 | Adelaide | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 3 | Sydney | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 3 |
| 4 | Central Coast | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | Heart | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | Victory | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | Western Sydney | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Wellington | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 9 | Perth | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 0 |
| 10 | Newcastle | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 0 |
Six minutes later he was the beneficiary of sharp passage when Mebrahtu released Iain Ramsay who drew Pasfield before centering for Williams, who was playing in Harry Kewell’s No.10 position, to again tap in.
Mebrahtu had a chance to wrap the game up in the 69th when his pace and strength held off Trent Sainsbury after Aziz Behich looped a ball over the top but Pasfield redeemed himself for his earlier gaffe.
Two minutes later the momentum swung the Mariners’ away as Williams pointed a spot after Patrick Kisnorbo had his hand on sub Matt Simon’s shoulder. Redmayne picked the right way but couldn’t stop Flores’ spot kick.
And moments later Williams awarded the Mariners another penalty after the ball struck the hand of Patrick Gerhardt, who had come on two minutes earlier, with Flores again stepping up and this time sending Redmayne the wrong way.
The Mariners were well below par and it appears it will take time to adjust having lost Bernie Ibini, Mat Ryan, Oliver Bozanic and Patrick Zwaanswijk while Daniel McBreen’s loan deal with Chinese side Shanghai SPIG ends on October 30.
There were positives for Heart, who didn’t concede many chances from open play with Dutchman Rob Wielaert again marshaling the defence well and will no doubt be a greater threat once Kewell and Michael Mifsud return.
Heart raced out of the blocks and created the opening few chances of the game. Williams had a goal-bound shot blocked by Trent Sainsbury after six minutes as did Mate Dugandzic moments later.
Otherwise it was a steady albeit conservative performance from Heart, with even Aziz Behich not venturing as far forward as he usually does.
Melbourne Heart coach John Aloisi was clearly disappointed with the decisions leading to the Mariners' two penalty goals.
"I think the people can see, because otherwise you wouldn't be asking me these questions (about the penalty decisions), and if they're going to be given, we'll see three or four a game.
"It's disappointing because there's two goals that I don't think should have been given."
Candid Mariners coach Graham Arnold was conversely a relieved man.
"I'd say we got away with it today, to be honest. I could have changed nearly the whole team at half time except for Marcos (Flores) and (Nick) Montgomery," he said.
"After the first goal that we copped, I thought it was just going to be one of those days."
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