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Mariners stunned as Sydney sub strikes in second half

Central Coast Mariners fell to a 4-1 defeat at Allianz Stadium, after second half strikes from Sydney FC.

The scoreline was a rather harsh reflection on the Mariners who were well in the game for long periods, but an inspired substitution from Ufuk Talay proved to be the difference in the second half.

Sydney took the lead against the run of play through Patryk Klimala, but the Mariners hit back through Harry Steele’s deflected strike to go into half time on level terms.

Adrian Segecic was introduced on 54 minutes and would be clinical in front of goal, scoring a 20-minute hat-trick from just four shots, to give Sydney the victory.

🔢 Line-Up

Jacko made three changes to the starting eleven that was successful in Brisbane last week, with the headline inclusion being 17-year-old Arthur De Lima who made his first Isuzu UTE A-League start a week after his debut goal.

Vitor Feijao also came into the starting eleven as Will Wilson dropped to the bench. With Nathan Paull and Ryan Edmondson unavailable, the door opened for Sabit Ngor and Sasha Kuzevski to return to the matchday squad.

Starting XI: Peraic-Cullen (GK), Kaltak, Sainsbury (C), Theoharous, McCalmont, Kuol, Doka, Feijao, Roux, Steele, De Lima.

Substitutions:
64′ ON: Brandtman OFF: Theoharous
75′ ON: Ngor, Wilson OFF: Feijao, De Lima
90′ ON: Eames OFF: Kuol

Unused subs: Pavlesic (GK), Herrington, Kuzevski.

First Half

Despite a strong opening 10 minutes from the Mariners that saw De Lima force the game’s first save from Devenish-Meares, it was Sydney who took the lead on 11 minutes, Klimala finishing from close range.

The Mariners looked to hit back immediately, Theoharous firing a volley off target from a tight angle.

On 19 minutes, Dylan Peraic-Cullen pulled off a fine stop to deny Klimala’s inventive effort on the turn, before also saving from Anthony Caceres and Joel King.

The Mariners managed to get on top in the game again around the half hour mark, with Theoharous forcing a diving save from Devenish-Meares with a curling effort.

Mikael Doka then had a big chance on 33 minutes, found by a superb diagonal pass from Trent Sainsbury, but Devenish-Meares made the block.

Alou Kuol saw a shot on the turn blocked before the breakthrough finally came for the Mariners, Steele’s strike bouncing up off the head off Klimala and over Devenish-Meares – sending us in level at the break.

Second half

The Mariners began the second half with a couple of half chances, after Feijao won the ball high up the pitch De Lima was found in the box but was crowded out as he was about to shoot.

Segecic was introduced on 54 minutes, he spurned a good chance on 66 minutes but wouldn’t miss again in a clinical cameo.

On 72 minutes, Segecic got in behind the Mariners after a clever pass from Caceres, slotting past Peraic-Cullen into the bottom corner.

The Mariners were still in the game and fashioned another half chance for Kuol through Roux’s cross, but he couldn’t guide his header on target.

Segecic’s second put the game beyond the Mariners on 82 minutes, a clever finish when one-on-one with Peraic-Cullen.

He sealed his hat-trick in added time with the goal of the game, striking into the top corner from outside the box.

▶️ Full Highlights and Match Reaction via Central Coast Mariners YouTube

Watch the full highlights below, with further match reaction including post-match interviews available via Central Coast Mariners on YouTube.

🌴 Next up

Our January travels continue next weekend as we visit Western Sydney Wanderers at Commbank Stadium on Friday evening, we then end the month with trips to Wellington Phoenix and Western United.

The Mariners return home for a massive F3 Derby Double Header on February 1st.

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