- The Star Central Coast Mariners player has been in good form all season
- Had a golden opportunity to score with the goalkeeper pushed forward
- Two opportunities were slaughtered and flamed online for it
Australia’s premier football competition has been branded a ‘village’ after an A-League team’s ill-fated attempt to score a goal went viral last weekend.
Star winger Josh Nisbet has come under fire on social media after failing to break his goal drought for the 2023/2024 season in a series of baffling upsets against Melbourne Victory.
Despite looking tired, the Central Coast midfielder had a clear opportunity to double his team’s lead in the 1-0 win at AAMI Park on Sunday.
The 24-year-old had an open shot on target but somehow failed to score not once, but twice very late in the match.
It came about in a thrilling match that saw three players red carded, with Victory having the chance to salvage a draw deep into stoppage time.
Melbourne called their goalkeeper into attack in a last-ditch effort to equalize, but when that play failed, Nisbet had an open goal to attack.
What happened next was almost comical.
Josh Nisbet (centre) has been in superb form for the Central Coast Mariners this season but found himself going viral after missing two wide open chances against Melbourne Victory
Nisbet had two golden opportunities from the front but was unable to capitalize late in the match as fatigue set in
The ball landed perfectly for Nisbet, who had an unobstructed path to goal from 30 yards out.
“The Mariners are out of here. Paul Izzo is off target!’ Channel 10’s Simon Hill said in commentary.
“Josh Nisbet just needs to keep his head.”
Despite dribbling effortlessly into the six-yard box, his attempt to score was blocked by Victory’s Jake Brimmer.
Nisbet’s first right-foot shot was thwarted, but the subsequent rebound hit the top crossbar.
Despite the blunder, the Mariners recorded their first-ever win over Victory at AAMI Park.
The social media world hasn’t forgotten, though, and a clip of Nisbet’s miss has been viewed more than 200,000 times, eclipsing the team’s victory in online discussions.
“It’s not match fixing, it’s pure unwillingness and inability,” one fan fired at the shocking series of goals.
‘Words cannot express how horrific Nisbet’s play was. “He had a million chances to score and, in typical A-League talent, he took a thousand touches and waited for the defense to get there until he shot,” posted another.
‘Why didn’t Josh Nisbet score at the death? Seriously, that shows the lack of talent in the A-League,” another commenter wrote.
“Nisbet should get a red card for that,” groused another A-League fan.
Crucially for Nisbet, the twin failures leave him goalless this season.
It comes just after he received the PFA Player of the Month award for January. He led the league for assists at the time.
‘I am honored to receive this award. It’s voted on by colleagues and opposition, so it’s great that they think I’m doing really well this season,” Nisbet said.
‘I would like to take this opportunity to thank the team and the club, we are doing so well at the moment and I couldn’t do it without them.
Former A-Leagues defender Robbie Cornthwaite called for Nisbet to be included in Graham Arnold’s Socceroos squad in 2023 and despite the viral moments against Victory, he remains one of the A-League’s best players.