MELBOURNE, Australia (Interstat) — Melbourne City opened its A-League season with a 2-1 victory over the Central Coast Mariners on Tuesday at AAMI Park, overcoming pregame projections that favored the visitors.

Andreas Kuen put Melbourne City ahead in the 22nd minute, and Andrew Nabbout doubled the lead in the 67th. The Mariners, which statistical models gave a 63.7 percent chance to win, saw a late consolation goal from substitute Ali Auglah in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

The result gives Melbourne City a winning start to its domestic campaign, while the Mariners begin with a loss. Oliver Lavale and Zane Schreiber received yellow cards in the second half for the visitors.