Central Coast Mariners fell to a 6-3 defeat to Sydney FC on Wednesday morning, in the second meeting with the Sky Blues this pre-season.
Mark Jackson rested centre-back duo Trent Sainsbury and Brian Kaltak as well as Sabit Ngor who produced a promising showing on his debut last week, with next Tuesday’s AFC Champions League Elite tie against Buriram United (next Tuesday, 6pm kick-off) in mind.
Sydney had been defeated 2-0 at Central Coast Regional Sports Complex just two weeks ago, but came into this game brimming with confidence after a 5-0 win on home soil in their ACL2 opening match last week.
Taking that confidence and a full strength side, barring Anas Ouahim, into this match; Ufuk Talay’s men were able to get the better of the Mariners with a clinical display.
On target for the Mariners were Alou Kuol and Arthur De Lima, who each finished off fine team moves either side of half time Sydney before Sydney took real control of the scoreline. Will Wilson then pulled one back for the Mariners with another well taken goal.
Line-Up
Starting XI: Warshawsky (GK), Theoharous, McCalmont, Kuol, Doka, Feijao, Mauragis, Steele, Herrington, Tapp, Paull.
Substitutions:
30′ ON: De Lima, Brandtman OFF: Theoharous, Steele
46′ ON: Roux, Edmondson OFF: Doka, Kuol
65′ ON: Wilson OFF: Feijao
70′ ON: N. Smith, Eames, Scicluna OFF: Mauragis, McCalmont, Tapp
77′ ON: R. Smith OFF: Herrington
84′ ON: Williams OFF: Paull
Unused subs: Pavlesic (GK), Paragalli, Duarte.
First Half
Sydney started the first half on top, Jordan Courtney-Perkins, Joe Lolley and Corey Hollman all fired off target but the Sky Blues finally made their pressure count when Patryk Kimala netted the opening goal on 23 minutes.
Warshawsky then made a fantastic save to deny Kimala from close range on 38 minutes, but there was nothing he could do a minute later as Sydney’s number 9 converted an almost identical chance.
The Mariners got one back before the break with their best move of the first half, Doka escaped two challenges before the ball was moved from right to left, Mauragis then charged forward, linking up with Vitor Feijao before putting it on a plate for Kuol.
Second half
Sydney regained their two-goal advantage three minutes into the second half, some individual brilliance from Joe Lolley saw him manage to squeeze a pass through the tightest of spaces in the box and Corey Hollman converted on the stretch.
A brilliant reaction from the Mariners saw them make it 3-2 less than a minute after conceding, Bailey Brandtman got in down the right and cut the ball back to De Lima who did well to keep his shot down and find the back of the net.
Sydney responded strongly themselves and put the game beyond reach as Douglas Costa stylishly swept into the bottom corner from the edge of the box, before Kimala completed his hat-trick and Adrian Segecic further extended Sydney’s lead.
The Mariners rounded off the scoring in an eventful game as substitute Wilson grabbed one back with a well taken goal on 77 minutes, calmly curling the ball home after great work from Ryan Edmondson.
De Lima, whose performance was a major positive for Jacko to take from the game, had a penalty appeal waved away as the Mariners pushed for late comeback but would be unable to make any further inroads into Sydney’s lead.
Next up for the Mariners, we host AFC Champions League Elite football for the first time as Thai League 1 Champions Buriram United visit Our Paradise.
Mariners fans can save with great value ACLE Memberships available from just $60 via the Official Mariners Membership Portal.
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