Despite a cracking strike to Andrew Hoole, the Central Coast Mariners have fallen 3-1 to Perth Glory in Western Australia.
Perth Glory 3 (Chianese 29’ & 61’, Torres 89’) Central Coast Mariners 1 (Hoole 72’)
The run down
Ben Kennedy stopped further damage being inflicted on the @CCMariners with a super late save against Perth Glory and he takes out our Save of the Week.
Check out every goal that wasn't saved here-https://t.co/MYqc1mPJj7. pic.twitter.com/U6gPkTNEAe
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) March 10, 2018
A brace to Perth’s Joel Chianese and last-ditch free-kick to Spaniard, Xavi Torres was enough for Kenny Lowe’s Glory to claim three points at nib stadium and cancel out Hoole’s right foot screamer.
The first chance of the match fell to Perth when Scott Neville whipped a dangerous ball into the box in the 7th minute which found the head of Torres. Torres’ header found the upright which kept a diving Ben Kennedy from making a save.
It was the away team who enjoyed the second chance of the match in the16th minute when the Mariners were awarded a set piece opportunity on the edge of the box. Danny De Silva broke forward in space only to be fouled by Alex Grant which Gave Hoole a prime free-kick opportunity. Hoole’s strike was on the money but Perth’s keeper, Nick Feely made a confident save to keep the scores locked at 0-0.
Perth Glory took the lead in the 29th minute from a set piece. Both teams struggled to assert their dominance on the match and a corner to the home team made it 1-0 when Chianese headed home in the first half.
Looking for a Sunday football fix?
Our Academy boys host their first home game of the season today. Kick-off is 6pm and entry is FREE! #NPLNSW #CCMFC pic.twitter.com/luUXVjt19D
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) March 10, 2018
With one minute remaining in the first half, Jacob Melling tried his luck from distance with a volley but it was just over the crossbar – Perth hit the break holding their 1-0 lead.
In the 61st minute, Irish hitman Andy Keogh turned well before taking a shot which found the post and fell fortuitously to Chianese who doubled his tally and Glory’s lead.
10 minutes later, substitute Connor Pain found Hoole on the edge of the area who threatened all night. Hoole took the game into his own hands and let rip on a strike from distance that curled inside the far post to keep the game alive.
Perth looked to respond immediately, but Chris Harold’s header was ruled out when the VAR deemed Keogh to have elbowed Mariners’ centre-back, Alan Baro off the ball.
Although, Perth eventually bagged their third goal of the night in the final minute of regulation time through another set piece when Torres let rip on a stunning free-kick from outside the area.
GOOD LUCK to our NPL Women in the Mariners Academy who finish up #FemaleFootballWeek with their first game of the season, away to St George! #CCMFC #NPLNSW pic.twitter.com/dBojYkh8bJ
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) March 10, 2018
Goals
29’ CHIANESE (1-0): The home team took the lead from a Neil Kilkenny set piece, headed home by Chianese.
61’ CHIANESE (2-0): Keogh shot from just inside the area which thumped off the upright and fell to the feet of Chianese who tapped home into an open goal.
72’ HOOLE (2-1): Hoole unleashed on one of his trademark right footers. With space at the top of the box, Hoole curled his shot just inside the far post, giving Feely no chance to make a save.
89’ TORRES (3-1): A precision strike to Torres wrapped up all three points for the Glory when he curled his free-kick into the top corner, giving Ben Kennedy no chance.
Paolo in the press
72’ | WHAT. A. GOALLLL! Pain finds Hoole on the edge of the box who sinks his shot inside the far post. C’MON YOU YELLOW! #PERvCCM #CCMFC pic.twitter.com/S3aNEZhmYT
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) March 10, 2018
“In the first half, there were large periods where we dominated but when we needed to be resilient from the set piece we allowed Chianese a free header and went into the break a goal down.
“In the second half, we had our moments – De Silva and Trent had shots blocked from good defending but you’d like to think we could have scored from those two opportunities.
“It’s a disappointing night and in the end, we didn’t do enough to win the football game.
“In a lot of games we’ve really competed we just haven’t been able to turn dominant periods into goals.
“I think that the players have been tremendous this season. There are important moments in games that when you score or when you concede we haven’t been good enough.
“Given the economics of where we are, it’s a difficult challenge. We’re a club that offers the opportunity for young players, we’re a development club. We’ve got five games to go, like tonight we will fight for every one of those points that’s available and finish the season as positively as possible.
“I’ve seen an improvement in a number of players this season which is one of the most positive things about the job.
“The goal is to win all five games. At the moment five games doesn’t seem like a lot but for us, there’s still enough games to end the season in the best possible manner,” Okon said.
Perth Glory: 2.Alex GRANT, 7.Joel CHIANESE, 8.Xavi TORRES, 9.Andy KEOGH (c), 13.Nick FEELY (gk), 16.Joseph MILLS, 18.Andreu GUERAO (15.Brandon WILSON 53’), 23.Scott NEVILLE, 26.Jacob ITALIANO (14.Chris HAROLD 65’), 66.Dino DJULBIC, 88.Neil KILKENNY
Substitutes not used: 40.Jackson LEE (gk), 4.Shane LOWRY & 22.Adam TAGGART
Yellow Cards: Torres 74’
Central Coast Mariners: 1.Ben KENNEDY(gk), 2.Storm ROUX, 4.Jake McGING, 5.Antony GOLEC, 7.Andrew HOOLE, 10.Danny De SILVA, 12.Trent BUHAGIAR (11.Connor PAIN 65’), 15.Alan BARO (16.Liam ROSE 82’), 22.Jacob MELLING, 23.Wout BRAMA, 27.Peter SKAPETIS (8.Blake POWELL 65’)
Substitutes not used: 18.Tom GLOVER (gk) & 19.Jacob POSCOLIERO
Yellow Cards: Melling 85’, L.Rose 88’
Friday, 10 March 2018
nib Stadium, Perth
Perth Glory vs. Central Coast Mariners
