Central Coast Mariners were held to a goalless draw with Sydney FC in Round 12 of the Ninja A-League.
The Mariners dominated on all fronts, with 61% possession and 21 shots to Sydney’s 12, with eight of those on target, but were unable to find the all important bit of quality on this occasion.
The best chance of the game fell to Mariners’ top scorer Annalise Rasmussen early on, but she was denied at close range by a brilliant reaction save from Brianna Edwards.
Emily Husband’s team remain in touching distance of the top six with a draw, whilst Sydney sit just a point and a place off the bottom of the ladder.
🔢 Line-Up
Husband named an an unchanged starting eleven for the third consecutive match, following last weekend’s 3-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers.
Taylor Ray continued at centre-back as she faced off against her former club. The only change to the squad saw youngster Lily McMahon return to the bench.
Starting XI: Langman, Nash, Martin, Pennock, Galic (C), Ray, Rasmussen, Rowe, Quilligan, Nunn, Evans.
Substitutions:
23′ ON: Kraszuka OFF: Quilligan
46′ ON: Trimis OFF: Evans
72′ ON: Fuller OFF: Rasmussen
86′ ON: McMahon OFF: Kraszula
Unused Subs: Carmichael (GK).
An unchanged Starting XI to take on Sydney FC! 📋#CCMFC #SYDvCCM #RideTheWave🌊 pic.twitter.com/C2ofWssS3L
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) January 19, 2025
First Half
The Mariners started strongly away from home, with what proved to be the best chance of the game coming after just three minutes. Shadeene Evans’ left footed shot was pushed away by Edwards but only into the path of Rasmussen, but the Sydney keeper reacted quickly to make. a stunning double save.
Evans saw another strong shot from inside the area just a minute later, before Sydney responded with their best spell of the game.
Tori Tumeth rattled the crossbar with a powerful strike from the edge of the area on 15 minutes, the closest the hosts would come to scoring on the day.
Edwards would be kept busy in the remainder of the first half, keeping out Brooke Nunn on the half hour mark after she was slipped in by a clever reverse pass from Bianca Galic.
Galic tried her luck herself two minutes later, Edwards able to hold her good strike from range, before Pennock saw the final chance of the half blocked on 42 minutes.
Second half
Chances would be at a premium for both sides in the second half. Half time substitute Peta Trimis brought a spark to the Mariners attack with her pace and energy, forcing Edwards into a save in the 48th minute.
Trimis had another effort in the 73rd minute after a nice move from the Mariners, but her shot was blocked.
Late on, Sydney had the chance for what would have been a controversial winner, but Amber Luchtmeijer could only fire straight at Langman, after a clear foul in Sarah Rowe in the build up.
🌴 Next Up
The Mariners return to Woy Woy Oval next Sunday to host Wellington Phoenix on January 26th.
Tickets for all matches are available via Ticketek, with our great value, flexible six-game memberships also available for just $90, via the Official Mariners Membership Portal.
