Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide United played out a 1-1 draw at Coopers Stadium on Saturday evening, with Sabit Ngor’s first Central Coast Mariners goal earning us a valuable point away from home.
The Mariners went behind on 10 minutes as Luka Jovanovic was the beneficiary of a goal-mouth scramble.
Ngor then popped up with an equaliser in the second half after fantastic forward play from Ryan Edmondson and a brave effort from Vitor Feijao.
Neither side could find a winner, with Adelaide opening their season with a point and the Mariners making it back-to-back draws to start the season.
Line-Up
Bailey Brandtman earned a start after impactful performances off the bench against Melbourne Victory and Shanghai Port, Jacko’s only change to the starting eleven.
His subs would pay dividends in the second half, Feijao and Ngor in particular making key contributions in attack as we battled back to earn a draw.
Starting XI: Peraic-Cullen (GK), Kaltak (C), McCalmont, Kuol, Doka, Mauragis, Roux, Steele, Tapp, Brandtman, Edmondson.
Substitutions:
46′ ON: Ngor, Paull OFF: Kuol, Roux
60′ ON: Feijao OFF: Brandtman
70′ ON: Duarte OFF: Edmondson
82′ ON: Kuzevski OFF: Mauragis
Unused subs: Pavlesic (GK), Eames.
📋 Your Mariners team to take on Adelaide United!
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) October 26, 2024
🔁 Bailey Brandtman is in as the only change to our Starting XI!#CCMFC #ADLvCCM #RideTheWave🌊 | @aleaguemen pic.twitter.com/9RapG81XzQ
First Half
Adelaide had the better of the first half, taking the lead on 10 minutes. Luka Jovanovic benefitted from a fortunate bounce in the box and scrambled home to make it 1-0.
The Mariners best chance of the half came on 25 minutes, as Brandtman picked out Alou Kuol with a cross but he couldn’t generate enough power on his header to beat James Delianov.
Stefan Mauk had two efforts but failed to trouble Dylan Peraic-Cullen, curling one effort wide before lofting a header onto the roof of the net.
Second half
The Mariners came out with renewed energy in the second half and with a tactical tweak from Jacko that saw Nathan Paull introduced and the team move into a back three, we took control of the game.
Edmondson had the ball in the back of the net on the hour mark, coolly finishing from Lucas Mauragis’ cross, but the flag was up for offside.
Just two minutes later, the Mariners wouldn’t be denied. Edmondson got the better of Isaias and forced Delianov into a save. Feijao, who had been on the pitch a matter of seconds, threw himself at the rebound which eventually fell to Ngor to tap home his first A-League goal in just his second substitute appearance.
⚽️ Our equaliser and a huge moment for Sabit Ngor!#CCMFC #ADLvCCM #RideTheWave🌊 | @aleaguemen pic.twitter.com/Q0LjO5sjXb
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) October 26, 2024
Both sides had chances for a winner but defences held firm. Bradley Tapp and Mikael Doka made crucial last-ditch interventions to keep Adelaide out before Paull connected well with a header from a Doka free-kick at the other end, but was denied by Delianov.
Overall, a point was probably a fair reflection of the game, with Adelaide having the best of the first half before Mariners’ dominance in the second.
Your Central Coast Mariners are back at Our Paradise next week for a huge double header!
Our Ninja A-League season gets underway as Emily Husband’s side take on the reigning Champions Sydney FC (2:15pm kick-off), before our Isuzu UTE A-League clash with Perth Glory (5pm).
Get your tickets now for what promises to be a fantastic day of football on the Coast!
