Brian Kaltak: back-to-back A-League champion

The Vanuatu international Brian Kaltak could not have a better final day of season in Australia; with a lot of emotion, his Central Coast Mariners managed to overcome Melbourne Victory in the extra-time thanks to the supersubs introduced by the coach Mark Jackson; Ryan Edmondson scored twice and the youngster Miguel Di Pizio once.

The 30-year-old national hero from Vanuatu celebrated his third trophy of the year as his team won the Premier’s Plate and the AFC Cup – Mariners is the first ever Australian team to complete a treble.

Jason Geria put Victory ahead in the early minutes of the second half after a first period without many scoring chances; Mariners pulled upfront in desperate need for an equalizer that only came in injury time through Ryan Edmondson, sending the game to extra-time. In the first 15 minutes of the extra-period, it was the youngster Miguel Di Pizio who found the back of the net to put Mariners ahead. Then, it was the turn of Melbourne Victory to search for a desparate equalizer, that unfortunately did not come for them. In the dying minutes, Edmondson gave the final numbers of the match to seal the back-to-back to A-League title for the Gosford team.

As for Brian Kaltak, that played all the 120 minutes, being pivotal in the defensive end for Mariners he continues to make historic in Australian football; It is only his second professional season in A-League and he celebrates his second national title, alongside the treble of the current season.

The proof of the talent coming from the Pacific Islands, the player that one day defended teams like Erakor Golden Star, Lautoka, Solomon Warriors and Hekari United is now considered the best defender of the premier Australian football league. The heroics of Brian Kaltak will be forever remember and there’s certainly more to come for the “The Brick Wall of Gosford“!