The Central Coast Mariners have missed out on an opportunity to go to second on the National Youth League ladder, after a last-gasp 3-2 loss to Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium tonight.
The Central Coast Mariners have missed out on an opportunity to go to second on the National Youth League ladder, after a last-gasp 3-2 loss to Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium tonight.
Losing Hyundai A-League player Sam Gallagher to a second bookable offence midway through the second half, the Mariners, who dominated large parts of the contest, saw Evan Kostopoulos snatch an 89th minute winner, after Jimmy Oates and Mitchell Mallia twice equalised for the Yellow and Navy.
“We have certainly put in better performances this season and we had a somewhat weakened squad for the trip, but overall I think a draw probably would have been a fair result.
“Take nothing away from Adelaide they found the winner late on and we-re not making any excuses, it-s just very disappointing. It was a good opportunity to continue what has been very good progress over the last few weeks, and we-ll now put a line under that and look forward to coming home next Saturday and taking on Perth,” Walmsley said.
A gallant Mariners came from behind twice and played the final 25 minutes with ten men after Gallagher was sent off.
Despite the intent of both sides, it took until the 26th minute for the first serious chance of the game, Max Glanville missing a gilt edged chance to give the Yellow and Navy the lead as he cannoned his shot straight into the post from close range after a fine assist from Oates.
Within a minute the young Reds made Glanville pay for his miss as Brett Rayner timed his run into the penalty area to perfection and slotted the ball through the legs of Mariners keeper David Bradasevic.
The Mariners- response was swift as an unmarked Oates made no mistake tapping the ball in at the far post in the 31st minute as United-s Youth failed to deal with a free kick from the left hand side.
Bradasevic kept the young Reds from taking the lead into the break when he made a smart save to keep out Kostopoulos, the chance the last of fiercely competitive opening half.
Six minutes after the restart United-s Youth nearly found themselves behind when a Mitchell Duke strike took a wicked deflection wrong footing Luke Ostbye, but it flew to the wrong side of the post.
Ostbye was then called into action as he saved another Duke effort, before the Mariners were reduced to ten players courtesy of Gallagher-s second Yellow card.
“It may have been a little bit of a soft yellow but at 1-all we were still in it. Full credit to the likes of Jimmy Oates, Nick Fitzgerald and Mitch Duke, they were fantastic, but we couldn-t quite come away with it,” said Walmsley.
Lucas Pantelis had a curling free kick superbly tipped over the bar by Bradasevic as the young Reds looked to capitalise on their player advantage before Rayner latched onto a teasing Pantelis dead ball to make it 2-1.
Mariners substitute Mitch Mallia then hit back for the visitors again to set up a tense finale with just over 10 minutes to go.
Sensing all three points there for the taking, United won a corner and again Pantelis turned provider as his in swinging left footer was met by Kostopoulos who nodded home the winner.
Match Details
Adelaide United Youth 3 (Rayner 27-/68-, Kostopoulos 89-)
Central Coast Mariners Youth 2 (Oates 31-, Mallia 77-)
Adelaide United: Luke OSTBYE (gk), Jordan ELSEY (Jackson GROVES 49-), Matthew HALLIDAY, Evan KOSTOPOULOS, Perry MITRIS (Jordan SPADEVECCHIA 62-), Matthew MULLEN (c), Bradley NORTON, Brett RAYNER, Liam WOODING (Francesco MONTEROSSO 62-), Lucas PANTELIS (OA).
Subs not used: Nick MUNRO (gk)
Yellow cards: Mullen 45+1-, Monterosso 81-
Red cards: Nil
Central Coast Mariners: David BRADASEVIC (gk), Mitchell DUKE, Nick FITZGERALD, Sam GALLAGHER, Max GLANVILLE (Zac FREEBURN 46-), Brendan GRIFFIN (Mitchell MALLIA 64-), Bernie IBINI ISEI (Nathan JAGELMAN 64-), Matthew LEWIS, Alex MANSUETO, Sam MUNRO (c), Jimmy OATES
Subs not used: Daniel NIZIC (gk)
Yellow cards: Lewis 32-, Gallagher 44-/65-, Mansueto 61-
Red cards: Gallagher 65-
Referee: Christian Verdicchio
