Central Coast Mariners fell to a heavy defeat to Adelaide United on Friday evening, in Round Eight of the Isuzu UTE A-League.
An early goal from Archie Goodwin gave the visitors the lead at half time. Early second half goals from Panagiotis Kikianis and Stefan Mauk took the game away from the Mariners, before substitute Yaya Dukuly fired in a fourth for Adelaide.
🔢 Line-Up
Jacko named an unchanged starting eleven following Sunday’s win over Sydney FC.
Starting XI: Peraic-Cullen (GK), Kaltak (C), Theoharous, McCalmont, Kuol, Doka, Mauragis, Roux, Steele, Kuzevski, Paull.
Substitutions:
46′ ON: Feijao, Ngor OFF: Theoharous, Kuzevski
87′ ON: Wilson, Eames OFF: McCalmont, Doka
Unused subs: Pavlesic (GK), Smith, Herrington.
First Half
Goodwin threatened early on with his pace looking to have got him in behind the Mariners defence, before Brian Kaltak made a superb recovery tackle.
At the other end, the Mariners’ first effort came through Christian Theoharous but he couldn’t keep his shot down.
After an end-to-end start, it was Adelaide who took their first chance as Goodwin made a smart run across the near post and finished well to give the visitors the lead.
The Mariners responded well, in search of an immediate equaliser. Sasha Kuzevski stung the palms of James Delianov with a strike from range, before Mikael Doka also saw a shot from range saved.
The best chance of the half came on 34 minutes as Doka’s delivery found the head of Alou Kuol, but his header flashed just wide.
Second half
The Mariners failed to really lay a glove on Adelaide in the second half, with Delianov unthreatened whilst three clinical Reds attacks put the Mariners to the sword.
Adelaide doubled their lead on 48 minutes as Kikianis converted from close range and the game was really taken away from the Mariners on the hour mark as Mauk also tapped in from close range.
Substitute Dukuly rounded off the scoring with a strike from the edge of the box, again Peraic-Cullen had no chance as the ball found the back of the net off the inside of the post.
Mark Jackson will seek a response as the Mariners travel to Campbelltown to take on Macarthur on Monday 23rd December.
🌴 Next up at Our Paradise
A busy December A-League schedule continues on next Saturday as Emily Husband’s Ninja A-League return to Our Paradise to take on Western United.
Our Isuzu UTE A-League side return home after Christmas, with Auckland FC making their first ever competitive trip to Gosford.
Tickets for all matches are available via Ticketek, with our great value, flexible six-game memberships also available via the banner below for just $90.
