Central Coast Mariners host Adelaide United at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford in Round 7 of the A-League. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage starting from 7:50pm AEDT.
The Central Coast Mariners are coming into this game off the back of a huge win last week in Gosford against reigning A-League champions Sydney FC.
You could feel the pressure dissolve around Central Coast stadium after the fulltime whistle as players and fans shared in the euphoria of getting their first win of the season.
Adelaide on the other hand are in pretty bad form losing their last three games and it won’t get any easier for them as they continue to be blighted by the loss of key players.
The challenge for The Mariners is to back up last week’s performance against Sydney on a more consistent basis.
Anyone that has watched them in recent weeks would acknowledge that they play some of the best football in the league but not where it counts.
The problem was always in both boxes, lapses of concentration at the back and poor finishing in front of goal was letting down the attractive possession style football they were producing.
It all seemed to come together against Sydney, they managed to lock out the dangerous trio of Bobo, Alex Brosque and Milos Ninkovic with relative ease, in midfield they dominated the ball and in the front of goal they took their chances with Andrew Hoole and Connor Pain causing problems with their speed and directness.
I have been very impressed so far with the addition of Wout Brama and Tom Hiariej to the Mariners midfield stocks and they were exceptional last week, intelligent when in possession and working tirelessly off the ball they will look to those two to ensure Central Coast take control of the game.
Adelaide are on downward spiral and need to do whatever they can to stop the rot. Last week’s loss against Newcastle was their third on the spin and you have to feel a little sorry for Reds boss Marco Kurz as his squad has been hit by some key injuries in recent weeks.
Missing five regulars from your starting line-up would hurt any side and it showed with a lack of composure on the ball and concentration off the ball contributing to defeats in recent weeks.
Paul Izzo has showed why he was brought to South Australia by Kurz as he made some vital stops against the Jets, the young shot stopper could be vital to them getting a result tonight.
Ryan Kitto made his first start of the season last week and was one of the positives to be taken from the game. He was bright and busy up the right touchline and put some decent crosses into the box. He could be the one that Central Coast will need to keep an eye on.
Prediction
I am going to back The Mariners tonight as I feel the momentum from last week’s win will spur them on to beat a depleted Adelaide side.
Join The Roar for live scores and coverage starting from 7:50pm AEDT.
Preview written by Alan Kearney.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Fox ratings: 39k Better than last year.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Cheers mate :D
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Adelaide monstered that game. The second half was simply dominant. Full marks to Kennedy whose athleticism kept out a number of hot strikes.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Right then, that'll do it here on The Roar for our live coverage of the A-League season as the Central Coast Mariners got beaten at home by Adelaide United. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. Tomorrow, it'll Alan Kearney taking you through Brisbane and Melbourne City from 7:50pm (AEDT). I'll be on Australia vs Samoa in the Rugby League World Cup from 8:30pm (AEDT). Bye for now.
Kangajets
Guest
Well bad luck ccm , it’s Adelaide’s night to get on the sauce .
Scott Pryde
Expert
Daniel Adlung is man of the match. Just in case you need a reminder of the reason why...
Fadida
Guest
Great game. For the Mariners Okon will be reminding them "and if you fall I'll pick you up, I'll pick you up"
Scott Pryde
Expert
Really good game, but I thought Adelaide probably deserved to win it in that last half an hour.
Scott Pryde
Expert
So then, a stoppage time goal for Ryan Kitto on a long range volley from the edge of the bot gets it done for Adelaide after both teams missed opportunities throughout the match. The Mariners only goal came from a penalty at the back end of the first half. They are having real trouble finishing their opportunities here. No goals outside of the penalty for them despite plenty of raids on the opposition goals. Adelaide though, dominated the last half hour and probably deserve to collect the three points away from home. Mariners 1 United 2
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Oh Midfielder, what just happened? CCM did not deserve to lose this game. Congrats to Ben and the forgotten Adelaide. A great clash, wonderful A-League action.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME We have gone five minutes of stoppage time, but Adelaide are going to get away with it. The Mariners had a huge chance right there, a ball curled into the box, but Matmour is back there, desperately sending it behind. The whistle goes and Adelaide are going to pick up the three points which move them back into the top six and secure them a huge confidence boost ahead of the FFA Cup final against Sydney FC on Tuesday night in Sydney. Mariners 1 United 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 4' Just a little bit of time added on after the goal. The Mariners with one attacking shot here. Mariners 1 United 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 3' - GOAL ADELAIDE! RYAN KITTO There's the winner! Adelaide are going to take home the three points. Lovely corner from Isaias into the back, it pinballed around and then it was Ochieng, kicking it over his head to the edge of the box out of blind hope. He managed to find Kitto though who hits the volley, getting it underneath Kennedy, into the bottom corner and Adelaide take the lead with seconds on the clock. Mariners 1 United 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 3' Adelaide straight back onto the attack and they win a corner. Mariners 1 United 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 2' Adelaide with some sloppy work in the mid field and Pain has it on the left now. He curls a cross into the box, but it beats both Bingham and Buhagiar, the ball running away for a goal kick. Mariners 1 United 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 1' FOUR MINUTES of added time Are we going to see a winner? Mariners 1 United 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
90' Play again breaks down in the middle, but Adelaide go on the attack again, Garrucio firing it intot he box and Matmour unable to control his header, putting it over the top. Mariners 1 United 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
89' The Mariners will have a chance then. Great work down the right-hand side, then a ball into Buhagiar. He gets there, but so does Elsey who puts it away for a corner. Mariners 1 United 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
89' The Central Coast back onto the attack off the free kick, but some good defence from Garrucio causes the mistake. I'm not sure we are going to see a winner here. Starting to feel like this might end up in a pretty entertaining draw. Mariners 1 United 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
88' The ball was skied from the goalkick and Blackwood is called for a messy challenge on Hiariej who had position under the descending ball. Mariners 1 United 1