Following a disappointing 2-1 defeat at the hands of Perth Glory last weekend, the Central Coast Mariners face Western United on Saturday with the goal of an important first three points of the season.
Team News
Central Coast Mariners Head Coach Nick Montgomery named an unchanged 20-man squad this week, with all eyes firmly on turning last weekend’s result around.
Dan Hall and Dor Jok enter contention to make the squad after narrowly missing out on the gameday 18-man side, looking to make their mark this weekend.
Youngsters Garang Kuol and Nectar Triantis have also had an extra week to prepare for Saturday’s game, after only having a single training session before the Perth match last Sunday after returning from the Young Socceroos.
Similar to the Mariners, Western United have named an almost unchanged squad from last weekend. The only change being youngster Rhys Bozinovski, who featured in the Young Socceroos with Kuol and Triantis, coming into the squad for Jake Najdovski.
Last year’s champions are still without Aleksandar Prijovic, who is sidelined with a toe injury, while Alessandro Diamanti will be looking to build on his first minutes of the season last weekend.
Recent Form
It was a disappointing afternoon in Gosford last Sunday, with the Mariners falling to a 2-1 loss against Perth Glory.
After collecting a point against Wellington the week prior, the Mariners were unable to kick on with their round three match despite scoring first.
That goal came through some lovely combination work between Jason Cummings and Sammy Silvera, with the latter drilling home his second of the season in the 21st minute.
Unfortunately the Mariners could not hold on, with Perth scoring either side of half time to seal the result.
After starting the season with two tough losses, Western United secured their first points of the season against Macarthur last weekend.
Despite trailing 1-0 early after former Mariner Matthew Millar scored Macarthur’s first, Lachlan Wales equalised in the 69th minute to hand his side a draw.
With a game still in hand the Mariners sit narrowly above Western United on goal difference, with both sides looking to move up the ladder in the coming rounds.
Previous Fixtures
The Mariners come into the game having not lost to Western United since June 2021, currently sitting on a three-match undefeated run.
The two sides most recently faced off in round 24 last campaign at Central Coast Stadium, with the match forming the third victory of our five-match win streak to end last year’s regular season.
An 81st minute Garang Kuol goal separated the two sides in that match, handing the Mariners a 1-0 lead.
Since Western United entered the competition in 2019, the two sides have faced off on eight separate occasions. The Victorian side has come out on top on three occasions, while the Mariners have won four times with a single 2-all draw.
Interestingly neither side has ever won at their opponent’s home ground, with the Mariners holding a perfect 4-0 record against Western at Central Coast Stadium.
Squads
Central Coast Mariners
2. Thomas AQUILINA, 3. Brian KALTAK, 4. Joshua NISBET, 6. Maximilien BALARD, 7. Samuel SILVERA, 9. Jason CUMMINGS, 11. Beni NKOLOLO, 13. Harrison STEELE, 14. Garang KUOL, 15. Storm ROUX, 17. Kelechi JOHN, 18. Jacob FARRELL, 20. Daniel VUKOVIC (c) (gk), 21. Michael RUHS, 23. Daniel HALL, 24. Yaren SOZER (gk), 25. Nectarios TRIANTIS, 29. Dor JOK, 90. Paul AYONGO, 98. MARCO TULIO
Ins: 23. Daniel HALL (promoted), 29. Dor JOK (promoted)
Unavailable: 10. Matheus MORESCHE (injured), 26. Bradley TAPP (injured)
Western United
1. Jamie YOUNG (gk), 4. Leo LACROIX, 5. Dylan PIERIAS, 8. Lachlan WALES, 9. Dylan WENZEL-HALLS, 10. Steven LUSTICA, 11. Connor PAIN, 14. James TROISI, 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 19. Joshua RISDON, 21. Sebastian PASQUALI, 23. Alessandro DIAMANTI (c) 26. Nicolas MILANOVIC, 27. Jacob TRATT, 33. Ben COLLINS, 37. Ryan SCOTT (gk), 38. Noah BOTIC, 42. Rhys BOZINOVSKI, 44. Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, 88. Neil KILKENNY
Ins: 33. Ben COLLINS, 42. Rhys BOZINOVSKI (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 6. Tomoki IMAI (injured), 7. Tongo DOUMBIA (injured), 31. Adisu BAYEW (injured)
MATCH DETAILS
Central Coast Mariners vs Western United
Saturday, October 29th
Kick-off: 5:15pm AEDT
Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Broadcast: The match will be broadcast live on Paramount+
Tickets: Get them HERE
