Central Coast Mariners clinch A-League Premiership with win over Adelaide
Central Coast Mariners are premiers of A-League Men for the first time in 12 years after defeating Adelaide in the season finale.
Struggling at the bottom of the A-League pile, Adelaide United have failed to earn even a single win, having already played five matches.
Having succumbed to their third loss in a 2-4 reverse at the hands of Melbourne City, Guillermo Amor’s men are left with a lot to ponder before their upcoming clash against fellow strugglers Wellington Phoenix.
Though the plaudits went to City, there cannot be any denial that Adelaide looked out of sorts throughout the match. A lack of discipline in the midfield saw them conceding four goals as Eric Paartalu and Aaron Mooy ran amok at Coopers Stadium.
Having opened their campaign with two draws, the Reds have faltered dramatically in the last three outings to concede 10 goals.
A closer insight into the City game shows that the defence was rather lacklustre and hardly received any support from midfield. The second goal was one such instance where Mooy got into a two-on-one situation with Osama Malik and got an easy break-away.
Coming to Adelaide’s opposition this weekend, Phoenix were lucky to get away with a point in a game where the Central Coast Mariners looked the better side. Though it took a late Roy O’Donovan equaliser to settle the scores.
Sitting in seventh, Phoenix have only seven points from five outings and would desperately be trying to pile more misery upon the bottom-placed Reds in Friday’s clash.
Phoenix goalkeeper Glen Moss was perhaps the brightest link in the clash making some decisive saves both in the first and second halves to keep out Fabio Ferreira and Liam Rose.
Though the fixture seems to be a close contest with United looking to change their fortunes, it would take a relatively mighty effort to keep out Michael McGlinchey’s team.
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.
Central Coast Mariners are premiers of A-League Men for the first time in 12 years after defeating Adelaide in the season finale.
Central Coast sit second behind Wellington, and a victory over Adelaide will see them finish the regular season on top of the ladder.
Joe Lolley was outstanding for the Sky Blues, scoring a brace as Sydney FC equaled their biggest ever victory.
Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
It was not too long ago that it was no guarantee that the best youth talents from South Australia would make their A-League debuts…
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.