Central Coast Mariners return to Isuzu UTE A-League action after the international break, with a huge F3 Derby clash at Unite Round on Friday evening.
The Mariners take on Newcastle Jets in the first F3 Derby of the season, one of the headline fixtures of the A-League’s second edition of Unite Round.
Unite Round info:
Back for a second year after the inaugural event last year, Unite Round is the best showcase of football in Australia but is about way more than just the mouthwatering fixture list.
Visit the A-League’s Unite Round Fan Hub for all information on Fan Zone activities, off-field entertainment, football clinics, 20 year celebrations and more.
F3 Derby Head to Head – will history repeat itself in Round 5?
The Mariners have the better of the fixture’s overall and recent history, winning 25 F3 derbies in total versus Jets’ 17, and have also won the previous five meetings, the most consecutive wins in the fixture’s history.
The Mariners’ record-breaking 23/24 season was really kickstarted this time last year as Mark Jackson got his first A-League win as Head Coach with a 3-1 win over the Jets in Round Five, a result which ended a four-game losing streak and began an incredible 14-game unbeaten run.
With the Mariners still searching for a first win four rounds into this term, Jacko will be hoping for a historic recurrence in Round Five.
In the second half of last season, the Mariners recorded two wins at McDonald Jones’ Stadium to make it a clean sweep of 23/24 derby victories, just the second time that feat had been achieved in F3 Derby history.
A 3-1 win in the penultimate round of the season proved to be a particularly memorable success, as the team not only lifted the F3 Derby trophy in front of thousands of travelling Mariners supporters, but also put one hand on the Premiers Plate.
Alou Kuol’s opening goal on the night was cancelled out by Apostolous Stamatelopoulos early in the second half, before late goals from Harry Steele and Ryan Edmondson sealed a huge win.
🔎 Newcastle Jets
Rob Stanton’s team have had an up and down start to the season, beginning with a 1-0 defeat at home to Melbourne City before coming from behind to beat Macarthur away from home.
Last time out, they were beaten 4-1 by Western Sydney Wanderers, before having a BYE leading into the international break, so they have had a while to stew on that heavy defeat and prepare for this F3 Derby.
Ones to watch: Brazilian teammates turned rivals
Youngster Eli Adams scored both goals in the Jets’ win over Macarthur, he is dangerous when cutting in on his left foot and will be marshalled by one of the players bound to be in the spotlight in this fixture, Lucas Mauragis.
Mauragis has quickly become a fans’ favourite at the Mariners after crossing the F3 divide this season, with his relentless energy up and down the left flank, providing attacking threat as well as defensive quality.
Jets forward Wellissol and Mariners talisman Mikael Doka are former teammates at São Joseense in Brazil, reunited on the other side of the world as rivals for the first time in Friday’s F3 Derby.
Jacko: “The boys are in good spirits”
Our Head Coach spoke to the media ahead of the game, discussing the importance of this game for the fans, whilst also addressing current injury news.
Harry Steele: “It’s one of the big games on the calendar”
As a local Coastie, there was nobody better to speak ahead of our biggest derby match, Harry Steele explained how much this game means as a fan and how he relishes playing for his boyhood club in these fixtures:
