On Saturday afternoon, the Western Sydney Wanderers will travel to Central Coast Stadium to take on the Central Coast Mariners in the Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s.
This promises to be an enthralling game with the Mariners coming off the back of a pulsating 2-0 victory against heavy-weights Sydney FC last Sunday where first half goals from Marco Ureña and Moresche proved the difference against the Sky Blues.
The Western Sydney Wanderers hosted Macarthur Bulls last Saturday night and the visitors ended up taking all three points with Wanderers boss, Carl Robinson, remaining under pressure following the FFA Cup Round of 16 exit to APIA Leichardt the week before.
This match will see Nicolai Müller face his former employer after he was snapped up by the Mariners in the off season. Müller has been recovering from a hamstring injury that he picked up during pre-season and will be relishing the chance to pull on the Mariners jersey for the first time this season.
The Mariners lead the league in the number of duels they have won (54%) and boast the youngest team in the country, with a squad with an average age of 24 in the previous match against Sydney FC.
Marco Ureña now has scored two goals this season and with the Mariners high in chance creation, the Costa Rican also has the highest number of shots on target from within the box alongside Dylan Wenzel-Halls from Western United (6).
Carl Robinson’s Wanderers often play possession-based football and sit 2nd overall for total amount of passes this season, with Newcastle Jets leading the competition and the Red and Black will look to their new signing Tomer Hemed for more goals after he has netted two so far.
Nick Montgomery is looking to build on last week’s victory and was excited with the fantastic turn out last week at Central Coast Stadium and is hopeful of similar tomorrow.
“It was great to be back at Central Coast Stadium and to hear the fans once again.
They really pushed us on and supported us throughout the 90 minutes against Sydney FC and were brilliant.”
“Western Sydney Wanderers are one of the biggest teams in the league. A good side with a lot of experienced players and like us, they have played well in some games and not got the results they probably deserved. We will be putting in the hard work to ensure that we can try come away with the three points.”
Montgomery will also be able to call upon two signings who have been recovering from injuries so far.
“It’s great to welcome back both Béni [Nkololo] and Nicolai [Müller] to the matchday squad after they picked up an injury earlier in the season. Nicolai we are yet to see this season after he pulled up in pre-season and we haven’t wanted to rush him back. As for Béni, after he picked up that injury in the last minute against Newcastle, I have said to him how he was one of the best players in the league and cup at the start of the season so I’m expecting a big impact from him now he’s back fully fit. I will be keen to see both of them back on the park this weekend as we have been light on bodies the last few weeks.”
Nick Montgomery – Mariners Head Coach
Ahead of the match, Cy Goddard spoke to the press and shared his thoughts on playing in front of fans once more and how he is enjoying life down under.
Match Details:
Central Coast Mariners v Western Sydney Wanderers
Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s MW5
Central Coast Stadium, Central Coast, NSW
5:05pm Kick Off
4:00pm Gates Open
Tickets: Here.
