- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The star attraction was missing but a bumper Gosford crowd was treated to a spectacular Central Coast goal blitz as they blew Sydney FC apart in a 7-2 thrashing on Saturday night.
A crowd of 15,686 – the Mariners’ biggest in five seasons – didn’t get the chance to see Sky Blues superstar Alessandro Del Piero, who was ruled out prior to kick-off with a hamstring problem.
But there were no complaints as they witnessed a nine-goal extravaganza – the equal highest-scoring game in A-League history.
A mix of horrendous defending and brilliant attacking were on show as Daniel McBreen netted the club’s first hat-trick and young gun Tom Rogic added two goals in a fine display.
The result would have been a sweet one for Mariners coach Graham Arnold, who turned down a chance to coach the Sky Blues this season.
Any disappointment among the fans at Italian legend Del Piero’s absence would have faded quickly after the home side came from behind to lead 3-1 at halftime.
A poor Mile Sterjovski back-pass was intercepted by Kruno Lovrek and the Croatian found Yau, who finished with a delightful chip kick in the eighth minute.
But the Mariners always looked more threatening in attack and were back on terms eight minutes later when Rogic scored from a blocked John Hutchinson shot.
The Sky Blues received another gift in the 27th minute as Michael McGlinchey’s wayward pass found Yau, but the striker missed the mark this time as he opted for power over precision.
The sloppy defending continued as Central Coast took the lead in the 29th minute thanks to a howler from Ivan Necevski.
The goalkeeper spilled a timid Rogic shot, and a Seb Ryall own goal ensued as McBreen tried to capitalise.
McBreen extended the advantage with a 39th-minute penalty, after McGlinchey had been barged over in the box by Trent McClenahan.
Sydney coach Ian Crook introduced Terry McFlynn and Blake Powell after halftime in a bid to revive the visitors’ hopes.
It looked to have worked when they deservedly pulled one back in the 54th minute when Ali Abbas brilliantly volleyed in Yau’s looped through ball.
But it proved to be false hope as the Mariners poured on four more goals in the space of 11 minutes.
The impressive McGlinchey danced his way into the box and unleashed a furious driven shot to score in the 56th minute before Rogic showed brilliant footwork to beat McFlynn and secure a brace in the 62nd.
Sydney capitulated as McBreen poked in his second in the 65th minute and secured his hat trick when he headed in Josh Rose’s cross two minutes later.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.