Full time: Sydney FC 1 – 0 Central Coast Mariners
An early Sydney FC goal was enough to get them all three-points in terrible conditions.
Filip Holosko punished the Mariners in the eighth-minute, and it looked as though Sydney were about to run all over Central Coast.
However, the pace of the game slowed down significantly, with a ruined pitch not allowing either side to play a passing style of football.
Central Coast had their moments, but never really looked like coming back, and it was their replacement keeper Ivan Necevski that kept them in the game
Necevski saved Bernie Ibini’s penalty attempt, before making two beautiful saves off efforts from Bobo and Brandon O’Neill.
Sydney FC, despite missed chances, managed to at least hold on to the ball for the majority of the game, and run down the clock to secure yet another victory.
The final score at AAMI Park, Sydney FC one, Central Coast Mariners nil.
Sydney FC are looking to all but clinch the minor premiership when they host the struggling Central Coast Mariners. Join The Roar from 7:50pm (AEDT) for live scores and commentary.
Sydney FC may have lost for the first time two weeks ago, however they bounced back to quickly regain their momentum.
The Sky Blues are coming gruelling off a 1-nil win over Melbourne Victory. Bobo put his side up in the 50th minute, the only man to convert in a game where both sides had plenty of chances.
The win put Sydney 11 points clear at the top of the table, and in need of just four points with five games left to play to clinch the minor premiership.
31-year-old goalkeeper Danny Vukovic’s career-best form has not got unnoticed, receiving the call up from Socceroos manager Ange Postecoglou ahead of Mat Ryan.
While Sydney are leading the race for the premiership, Central Coast are fighting to clinch a spot in the top six.
Despite sitting second-last on the table, the Mariners are just five points behind sixth-placed Western Sydney Wanderers. However, with so many sides fighting for a finals spot, Central Coast can’t afford any more setbacks.
The Mariners haven’t won a game since they beat the Wanderers in early February, and are coming off a 3-2 loss to Melbourne City. They are also without keeper Paul Izzo, who was sent off in the controversial loss to City.
The last time these two sides played was in early January, when Bobo put Sydney ahead by two before Roy O’Donovan and Scott Galloway brought Central Coast level. In the end, it was 77th-minute effort by David Carney that clinched all three points for the Sky Blues.
Prediction
Sydney look to be on a different level to the rest of the A-League, let alone a struggling Central Coast side. The Mariners are going to have to step their game up if they want to get anything out of this game, but given their recent form, that doesn’t seem likely.
Sydney FC 2-0 Central Coast Mariners
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Guest
Surprisingly (to me) CCM put up a good showing last night and not too far off doing something special next season. Okon, has certainly put his stamp on this club and he only needs to sign a couple of quality players next season to make a real go of it.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
CCM and Okon deserve a lot of credit for making it a very watchable contest while SFC had the better chances. I guess Arnie will be happy but they could hardly call themselves entertainers.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Thank you for joining The Roar for this live blog, we look forward to seeing you all again soon!
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
FULL TIME: Sydney FC 1 - 0 Central Coast Mariners
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
90+4' - Montgomery's long throw in the box is cleared away, and the referee blows the whistle for full time. SYDNEY FC 1 – 0 CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
90+2' - Central Coast have one minute to get anything out of this game. SYDNEY FC 1 – 0 CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
90+1' - Three minutes of time to be added on. SYDNEY FC 1 – 0 CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
90' - Sydney are slowing the pace of the game down, it looks like they will take all three points unless Central Coast can produce something special. SYDNEY FC 1 – 0 CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
88' - Montgomery's free kick sails into the hands of Vukovic after it misses all the heads in the box. SYDNEY FC 1 – 0 CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
86' - O'Neill's free kick is on target, but once again its Necevski to the rescue with a brilliant save! SYDNEY FC 1 – 0 CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
85' - Montgomery receives a yellow card for a very late challenge and Sydney have a free kick from a very dangerous area. SYDNEY FC 1 – 0 CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
81' - NECEVSKI TO THE RESCUE ONCE AGAIN! Bobo makes a run and finds space to shoot, but Necevski saves a hard low shot. First a penalty now that, Central Coast are in this game because of him. SYDNEY FC 1 – 0 CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
80' - Appiah comes off for Buhagiar in a change for the Mariners. Will this make a difference? Mariners have 10 minutes to turn this game around. SYDNEY FC 1 – 0 CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
Swanny
Guest
The Sydney Fc crowds are terrible . Maybe Sydney Fc should be kicked out the comp to be replaced by Wollongong .
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
78' - Ninkovic's shot in the box is blocked, but Ibini gets the ball inside the box and has a go. OFF THE INSIDE OF THE CROSSBAR, AND BACK OUT! Ibini misses the penalty then hits the crossbar. Not his night it would seem. SYDNEY FC 1 – 0 CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
Stevo
Roar Rookie
That's a Suarez-like effort to win a pen by Ibini. Shameful. Save was justice.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
76' - PENALTY SAVED Ibini's penalty is poor, hitting low, nowhere near the corner, and with no conviction. An easy save for the keeper. SYDNEY FC 1 – 0 CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
75' - PENALTY! Ibini is taken down in the box by Rose. SYDNEY FC 1 – 0 CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
73' - A big factor in this match has been the pitch. Neither side can get a string of passes together. The rugby league game between the Roosters and the Bulldogs was played there last night, and they really made a meal out of the field. SYDNEY FC 1 – 0 CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
69' - Ibini comes on for Holosko in a change for Sydney FC. SYDNEY FC 1 – 0 CENTRAL COAST MARINERS