After losing top spot on the A-League ladder last weekend, Central Coast Mariners must head down the F3 and claim all three points against Sydney FC to keep themselves in the race for the Premier’s Plate. We’ll have live coverage from 5.30pm AEDT.
No doubt Graham Arnold would have been seething to lose to Western Sydney last Saturday night at a rain-swept Bluetongue Stadium, but when he stopped to analyse this one later in the week he wouldn’t have been too concerned.
His side controlled the game for the majority of the 90 minutes and had multiple chances to go ahead, before eventually conceding in the 81st minute.
Tonight they head south to face the sky blue version of Sydney in what should be warm conditions at Allianz Stadium.
Sydney appeared to be ready to string together a run of form off the back of two consecutive wins but losses to Melbourne Heart and Perth Glory have dented any momentum Frank Farina’s side had begun to generate.
They’ll again be tested tonight following the late withdrawal of Lucas Neill after the Socceroos skipper suffered a thigh injury in training on Thursday, meaning the unpredictable duo of Adam Griffiths and Tiago Calvano will line up in the centre of defence.
It’s hard to see Central Coast not winning this evening. They’re professional and they’re consistent and despite a hectic schedule and the letdown of last weekend I expect them to get the result.
A late winner from Brett Emerton might have meant the Sky Blues took three points from the last encounter between the two sides but it is hard to forget the 7-2 hiding that the Mariners handed out at Bluetongue, resulting in the resignation of Ian Crook.
Sydney might have the names but the Mariners possess the cohesion and they’ll do enough to win tonight.
Midfielder
Guest
Well done SFC the better side on the night...
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Well done SFC boys. SFC has turn the corner and slot into 5th spot on the ladder at this point in time----this will be a sensational finals series if we can repeat this form until the end... SFC finishing the season with a wet sail...
Chad Bennett
Editor
FULL TIME: Sydney FC 2-0 Central Coast Mariners And that will be it. Graham Arnold can't have too many complaints tonight as his Mariners outfit were simply a step behind in enthusiasm and intensity for the majority of the evening. They lose their second straight game for the first time this season and fail to take the opportunity to leap back into first place, and Western Sydney can now all but secure the Premier's Plate with a win tomorrow afternoon. For the home side, they were not great but good enough and their attitude meant they were halfway there before stepping onto the pitch tonight. Their A-League championship hopes are back on the table, moving into fifth spot, equal with the Jets. Thanks for reading, don't forget to jump over to our coverage of Roar vs Victory at 7.45pm AEDT.
Chad Bennett
Editor
90 + 2' Sydney FC 2-0 Central Coast Mariners One minute to run. McGlinchey again with a set piece, this time form a free kick. Holds up a ball to the back post to Sainsbury, but the number 20 is up for Sydney to collect. That will be about all she wrote from Sydney, I'd think...
Chad Bennett
Editor
90 +1' Sydney FC 2-0 Central Coast Mariners Frank Farina has decided to make his final sub, bringing on Ali Abbas to replace Terry McFlynn. The fourth official has indicated that there will be three minutes of additional time.
Chad Bennett
Editor
Sydney half-clear the ball twice, the ball falls to Mitchell Duke on the corner of the six-yard box and he blasts it over and wide! Or dear.
Chad Bennett
Editor
90' Sydney FC 2-0 Central Coast Mariners Into the final minute now. Sydney are a handful of minutes away from being back in the top six, but first they'll need to defend a orner from McGlinchey after McBreen's shot was deflected.
Chad Bennett
Editor
88' Sydney FC 2-0 Central Coast Mariners Woah! A-League leading goalscorer can't believe his luck after the ball sits up for him after his first touch turns him toward goal, Janjetovic rushes out and McBreen flicks the ball over him - and the bar. They might have been below their best but they definitely have had their chances, have the Mariners.
Chad Bennett
Editor
87' Sydney FC 2-0 Central Coast Mariners The Mariners push down the left-hand side and a ball into the feet of Bozanic nearly finds a shot at goal but his touch is slow and so is his turn. Goal kick.
Chad Bennett
Editor
86' Sydney FC 2-0 Central Coast Mariners Del Piero's corner is short and the ball rebounds to him, he lines it up, takes a touch and then whips the ball at the feet of Ryan, who does well to swallow it up.
Chad Bennett
Editor
85' Sydney FC 2-0 Central Coast Mariners Game being played well and truly up Sydney FC's end of the pitch. Succession of three corners for them now, Mariners are hanging on for their lives. Surely they are done.
Chad Bennett
Editor
82' Sydney FC 2-0 Central Coast Mariners Terrible attempt at a pass from McFlynn nearly allows Duke to pick up the ball and go 1 v 1 with Janjetovic, who races out and clears the danger. Why did he get a one-year extension, again??
Chad Bennett
Editor
CROWD: 16,155 Not really a terrible crowd, but given that it was another NSW team - a second-placed NSW team, no less - you'd expect them to be nudging 20 at least.
Chad Bennett
Editor
80' Sydney FC 2-0 Central Coast Mariners Duke's backheel nearly gives McBreen half a yard of space but like has been the case all afternoon a Sydney FC defender is there to make the block. They've been up for it all night, and deserve to be leading.
Chad Bennett
Editor
78' Sydney FC 2-0 Central Coast Mariners Sydney seem contented to slow the game down to their tempo now, and why wouldn't they. Three points here will put Sydney back into the race for top six, which could be far closer than that at the top of the table. If the Mariners do go on to lose and the Wanderers beat Wellington tomorrow, they'll be five points clear with three games left to play!
Chad Bennett
Editor
76' Sydney FC 2-0 Central Coast Mariners Plenty of noise coming from the Cove after that goal. Something tells me the sky blue half of Sydney might have taken notice from their black and red cousins on the other side of the ANZAC Bridge.
Chad Bennett
Editor
75' Sydney FC 2-0 Central Coast Mariners Well, football is football and there is no doubt the Mariners can get this back, but on the evidence of the first 75 minutes only the most optimistic of Central Coast fans would be picking it here.
Chad Bennett
Editor
Sydney slice through the middle of the Mariners back four and Chianese is in an acre of space after neatly playing a one-two with Antonis, and he makes no mistake sliding the ball under Ryan to double the advantage. That could be almost game.
Chad Bennett
Editor
73' Sydney FC 2-0 Central Coast Mariners SYDNEY FC GOOOOAL!!!
Chad Bennett
Editor
71′ Sydney FC 1-0 Central Coast Mariners Inside the last 20 minutes now and while the Mariners continue to ask questions of the Sydney defence, in truth they really haven't tested Vedran Janjetovic on too many occasions.