Central Coast Mariners Academy retained their NPL NSW status with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Bulls FC Academy on Friday evening at Pluim Park, in the 2024 NPL NSW promotion/relegation play-off second leg.
Trailing 2-1 from the first leg in Western Sydney a week prior, Head Coach Lucas Vilela needed a big reaction from his team in this high-stakes match and he got exactly that, saying the performance made him ‘probably the happiest person in the world’.
The Mariners dominated from minute one, with Nicolas Duarte opening the scoring early on the night from the penalty spot, to level the tie.
Donatian Niyonkuru, who stole the show on the night, made it 2-0 (3-2 on aggregate) before the pick of the goals from Bailey Brandtman made it three (4-2) before half time.
Duarte put the icing on the cake with a second penalty in the second half, giving the Mariners a comfortable-looking 5-2 aggregate scoreline at full time.
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A huge congratulations to our NPL Men's First Grade Academy team, who defeated Bulls FC Academy 4-0 in the Playoff Second Leg last night! 🔥
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) September 7, 2024
The 5-2 victory on aggregate secures our place in NPL football for next season! Well done to all! 👏#CCMFC #RideTheWave🌊 pic.twitter.com/hZf5A6kDdx
Line-Up
Starting XI: 40. Peraic-Cullen (GK), 3. Deng, 4. Williams, 5. Menham, 6. Small, 7. De Lima, 8. Scicluna, 9. Duarte, 11. Niyonkuru, 27. Kuzevski, 37. Brandtman.
Substitutions:
58′ ON: Toska OFF: Brandtman
64′ ON: Rose OFF: Niyonkuru
70′ ON: Paragalli, Nassis OFF: Kuzevski, Duarte
75′ ON: Eames OFF: Small
Unused subs: Ajanovic (GK)
First Half
Duarte gave Vilela’s team the dream start just seven minutes in, opening the scoring with a well-taken penalty after Niyonkuru was fouled in the box.
It was a sign of things to come as Niyonkuru terrorised the Bulls defence all evening, he got his goal on 16 minutes to give the Mariners the lead in the tie, jinking inside before firing at goal, his shot deflecting in off the post.
The Mariners’ dominance continued and there was a flurry of chances towards the end of the half. First, Lucas Scicluna forced Alexander Robinson into a strong save down to his left on 37 minutes
Less than a minute later, a stretching Arthur De Lima couldn’t keep his effort down after the Mariners won the ball in the Bulls third, Duarte then saw a powerful effort from distance fly over Robinson’s crossbar.
From the resulting goal-kick, a powerful defensive header from Cher Deng put the Mariners straight back on the front foot as Brandtman raced through on goal, his strike was well saved by Robinson and a Bulls defender was well-placed to clear the rebound.
The moment of the match came on the stroke of half time as Brandtman made it 3-0 with a delightful finish. Scicluna found Niyonkuru who fizzed the ball into Brandtman’s feet in the box, he took one touch before delicately lifting the ball over Robinson into the back of the net.
Pure brilliance from Bailey Brandtman last night to help our Men's First Grade Academy team secure their place in NPL next season! 🍟
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) September 7, 2024
Nico Duarte also found the back of the net twice from the penalty spot, with Donatien Niyonkuru scoring the other! 💥#CCMFC #RideTheWave🌊 pic.twitter.com/bgx8pMsmmd
Second half
Niyonkuru’s pace was still proving too hot to handle for the Bulls as he won a second penalty on 54 minutes, Duarte again stepped up and this time his effort squeezed under Robinson to really put the tie beyond the visitors.
The Mariners were still hungry for more, on 57 minutes, Deng was denied from close range after Kuzevski’s in-swinging corner and when the ball was cleared only half-cleared back to Kuzveski, his stinging strike from a tight angle was pushed over the bar by Robinson.
Kuzevski also had to be at his best at the other end, making a crucial intervention on 61 minutes to deny Bulls’ best player on the night, Luca Pecora, a free shot at goal.
The visitors were enjoying their best spell of the game at this point, with Dylan Peraic-Cullen forced into his best save of the evening on 65 minutes, getting down sharply to keep out Flynn Madden’s strike.
The closest Bulls came to a consolation goal was on 68 minutes, as Pecora’s deflected strike came back off the post.
At the other end, the Mariners threatened a fifth as substitutes Jai Rose and Michael Paragalli came came close, Robinson saving from Rose whilst Paragalli’s volley struck the post.
The Mariners were able to celebrate at full time, in front of a strong crowd at Pluim Park which included the full first team playing squad and staff who were there to show their support on a big night for the club.
🗣 Vilela: “I couldn’t be more proud”
“Really happy for the team that put a lot of work during the week to make sure we would be able to have a vibrant and dominant performance like that.” Vilela said.
“The big difference [from the first leg] was the focus and respecting our game plan. We knew Bulls had a great team and would fight for the spot in the top flight and they did really well in the first game. We needed to do better and we did.
“We had a good week of preparation and we knew playing at Pluim Park with the support of the community would help, the fans were amazing and it was great to see the stands full. All these things, plus the desire to represent the club in the best way, were key to achieve our goal with a good performance.
“I couldn’t be more proud. The way the team took on our project this year, trusting the process and fighting until the end makes me probably the happiest person in the world at the moment.” Vilela added.
