Rookie Adelaide keeper Joe Gauci saved two penalties but Central Coast somehow flipped the script to register a 2-1 win in an engrossing top-of-the-table A-League clash.
In just his fourth game and having secured a superb save in his side’s win over Sydney FC on Sunday, Gauci was at it again at Central Coast Stadium with spectacular parries in the 17th and 57th minutes.
With the Reds enjoying a 1-0 lead, it looked to be something of another spot-kick curse for the Mariners, who had bizarrely conceded three penalty goals when they lost to Adelaide six weeks ago.
But the plucky Mariners refused to let their misfortune dictate the result.
Oliver Bozanic, who’d missed the second penalty attempt, pierced three Reds defenders to unfurl a cracking low strike to beat Gauci at the left post in the 72nd minute.
Just four minutes later, Alou Kuol had the home side in front for the first time.
Joshua Nisbet drew in Gauci and made the custodian commit before laying back to the unmarked Kuol from close range.
“It really speaks to the character within the group…we played with an amazing amount of courage and resilience that I probably haven’t seen for a long time,” Mariners coach Alen Stajcic said.
Things had looked to be headed a much different way for the Mariners.
Reds midfielder Craig Goodwin was eventually called out by the VAR for a handball in the 17th minute with veteran Matt Simon, who later had a header disallowed with an offside, stepping up to the spot.
Gauci saved the shot down the middle to frustrate the ladder leaders, but plenty more drama was to come.
Defender Jordan Elsey saved off the line in the 44th minute and then three minutes after the break a lovely long ball from Reds defender Ryan Strain caught out Jack Clisby, Ben Halloran squeezing his cross to Kusini Yengi who beat keeper Mark Birighitti.
Bozanic stepped up after another handball, Gauci this time diving to his right to make what seemed like a save the would break the Mariners’ backs.
Yet the steely Central Coast showed why they have been the surprise packets of the season, dominating much of the rest of the match to secure the result.
Adelaide United coach Carl Veart was philosophical about the result after a six-match winning stretch, praising Gauci but seemingly acknowledging the keeper’s error in the Kuol goal.
“It was fantastic – he’s done extremely well, but you have to play for the full 90 minutes don’t you,” he said.
“At times we just allowed them a little but too much space and opportunity to hurt us.”
The Mariners had gone three matches without a victory but now have a four-point buffer at the top of the ladder.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
Adelaide reminded me of Brisbane Roar in that game with there long balls and headless chicken approach.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
The way they play just suited city it seemed to me. MC pressed high and hard and made it so difficult for CCM to develop an effective counter attack. WU approached the game quite different last night and profited big tim even though MC took an early lead.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Yes they hurt as you just want someone to do the right thing at the right time.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
AA - I wasn’t suggesting you were ungracious at all. I was referring to my approach to winning and losing and how to deal with it especially when the game has been good. I knew I had finally “grown up” when I learnt to acknowledge and applaud the opposition when they do something well. Once upon a time there would have been a very different reaction from me even if the opposition had won 7-0!
Adelaide Andy
Roar Rookie
awful goal to concede, that the 5th goal by my count that 1 game superstar of the bundesliga that no a league team wanted, timotheou has been directly responsible for
Adelaide Andy
Roar Rookie
thats AFL for you, the sport for the uneducated. I saw a collingwood spectator attacked an umpire or something. But hey lets not allow active support back into the real football
Adelaide Andy
Roar Rookie
when was i ungracious in defeat? im pretty sure i said well done
Vic Desmond
Roar Rookie
Didn’t get to watch the game but never the less a sad day for my beloved United. You may have won the battle but you haven’t won the war yet. I look forward to meeting the Mariners in the finals. What a year this has been for the league!
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
CCM were very flat against City, they returned towards their early season intensity, the question is though why were they so lame against City. Adelaide their whole thing fell apart with old Juande who sauntered around let any pressure the rest put on be released. He was too deep a lot of the time and going at jogging pace, they mentioned he was in hotel quarantine a short while ago which makes it rather stunning he was started. I think they should have found a left back instead or used Caletti . The policy is old comes first at Adelaide imagine if they had Baumjohan as well he would start over Mauk at Adelaide and they would be challenging MV for the spoon. Suprising that Veart left Juande for the full 90 and took off Yengi who was a handful physically. Melbourne City looked incredibly good when Grifiiths went out of the midfield and Luna came in, to go back to Griffiths who lacks mobility is a very strange move, and City suffered as a result. Their use of subs was very poor as well.
Coastyboi
Guest
Yeah, it’s bitter-sweet for Mariner’s fans. Still, that’s progress for you. The player’s stocks have shot up this year. Nisbet too? Good on him. He’s a top bloke.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Better to loose him to Europe for a fee than another A-League team for free.... we need the transfer market fixed...
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Nizzy is also on the radar of some overseas clubs.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I don't know why my post was taken down but I love Adelaide Andy's passion and knowledge of football. I like reading his posts but I find his comments about the east coast and racism incorrect and offensive. Adelaide isn't the only place where tolerance and fairness exist. I believe most football fans and Australians generally are good people who are open minded and tolerant. Just checked with Google - I know it was AFL but it was Adelaide where a spectator threw banana on the field. An absolutely disgusting act which I know you would also be appalled by.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I love the celebration and more importantly the crowd loved it too. That's what should bring more through the gates next game. I still remember when your team beat Sydney and the coach and players were singing the Daryl Braithwaite horses song. Hated the loss but loved your team's joy. More of this passion please.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Shame to lose him but what a great step gor him. Central Coast could pick up $500 000 for him as well. Nisbet is being looked at too.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I love your passion for your team and you do know a lot about football but your continual comments about the east coast and racism are incorrect and offensive. Unfortunately, racism exists to some degree everywhere. Adelaide isn't the one and only place where all people are treated equally. The majority of football followers as well as Australians generally are very open minded and tolerant people. Please just stick to football Andy - because that part of your writing I enjoy reading just like I do enjoy watching Adelaide play. Although, I did thoroughly enjoy the Mariner's victory. Skill combined with steel - promising signs.
Coastyboi
Guest
There was something electric about Kuol’s goal. The crowd were absolutely roaring with approval, after the player dramatically jumped the fence to celebrate with the fans. Quite simply, the Mariner’s took this win extremely seriously. Also, Nisbet was instrumental in keeping the ball alive & passing it back to Kuol, who gleefully rocketed the ball into the goals. For all the praise Gauci previously received, the Red’s hapless keeper was bamboozled into submission. An embarrassing rookie error, it seems. King Kuol. If rumours are correct, the A-League’s hottest talent will be gracing the German giants VfB Stuttgart soon.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
AA - I learnt a long time ago to be gracious in victory and gracious in defeat. Enjoy the highs and learn from the lows. Last night CCM played the game as though it was a final and the celebrated accordingly. When you spend too long analysing a game that is always full of “ifs and buts” and “should’ve could’ve” you tend to get somewhat bitter and twisted. It makes no difference whether you win or lose, it just manifests itself in different forms. The game was exciting, had its moments of controversy, made a hero out of Gauchi, it had plot alterations, twists and turns and generally speaking all the ingredients that have drawn me to the game for a long time. Adelaide will have their day in the sun, quite possibly as early as next Saturday night and CCM continue to defy the critics and put points on the board. It took two teams to put on the show and it was extremely entertaining on many levels.
Tekkers
Roar Rookie
After five seasons being the cellar dwellers of the league any win is going to be celebrated like that no matter how close the score line is.
Adelaide Andy
Roar Rookie
everything i said pre match i stand by your lot were well marshaled throughout the match, we literally gave you 2 spots kicks that you missed, scored a goal because timotheu couldnt be bothered making a challenge & a goalkeeper howler. Goodwin should've scored in the box, also had a good chance right after we scored to make it 2-0. We can go back and forth as much as you want on what ifs, but at the end of the day we lost, you won and we move onto next week. juande controlled the midfield for patches throughout the match we were more than comfortable throughout that match, should never have thrown that lead away. notice how there was no racial abuse at kuol from any adelaide fans when he scored after the match? it shows you what sort of fans we have, unlike the uncouth lot on the east coast that racially abuse our player. id be embarrassed as a mariners fans if i saw my players celebrate like they won the world cup from a goalkeeper mistake that led to a 1 meter tap into an empty net ahahah you liked your own post, guess its true what they say about the egotistical east coast