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Western Sydney Wanderers FC
2
Match Complete
Central Coast Mariners
1
| M. Duke |  | 88' | ||
| M. Duke |  | 82' | ||
| 69' | | G. Stensness | ||
| D. Georgievski | | 46' | ||
| M. Duke | | 41' | ||
| 36' | | M. Duric |
| 12 | Shots | 10 | ||
| 7 | On Target | 3 | ||
| 12 | Fouls | 8 | ||
| 4 | Corners | 6 | ||
| 1 | Offsides | 1 | ||
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 | ||
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
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The Western Sydney Wanderers have defeated the Central Coast Mariners 2-1 in front of a huge crowd at Bankwest Stadium.
It was the homecoming for which so many people have waited over past three years and the Wanderers didn’t fail to deliver in their first A-League match of the 2019/20 season.
Early on, things looked a little problematic for the home side as the Mariners took the early initiative and the lead through a Milan Duric goal in the 36th minute.
To that point, the visitors were by far the better side and when Mitchell Duke levelled in the 41st minute to send the teams to the break level, it would have been fair to assume that the Wanderers felt a little fortunate to be at parity.
The second 45 was cagey to say the least and it took all of 82 minutes to separate the teams, when Duke found his second via the penalty spot; a spot kick that ultimately claimed the first three points on offer for the season.
Neither manager will be chuffed nor disappointed. There was enough in both the Mariners and the Wanderers play to suggest that they will challenge every A-League opposition in 2019/20.
Stajcic will be somewhat disappointed with the result, yet also pleased with his team’s application.
Babbel will be cock-a-hoop, starting the season with three points and enjoying the fervent crowd at Bankwest Stadium that drove his team towards victory.
Final score
Western Sydney Wanderers 2
Central Coast Mariners 1
The Western Sydney Wanders and the Central Coast Mariners do battle on the opening weekend of A-League action. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5pm (AEDT).
The day has finally arrived for the Wanderers, the Red and Black Bloc and all fans of Western Sydney’s team.
Bankwest Stadium hosts the red and black for the first time and what a glorious homecoming it will be for Markus Babbel and his squad.
There are new and exciting signings and fresh feelings surrounding the club yet nothing can match the sheer anticipation around the most slick and state of the art football stadium ever built in Australia. There will be a big crowd on hand to watch what should be an emotional night for the home side.
Alen Stajcic takes another step forward with his new-look Mariners tonight, after taking the reins in difficult circumstances towards the end of last season. With hopes for renewal, the reality is that there is no other option.
Treading water at the foot of the A-League ladder is not sustainable in the long term and the long-suffering fans of the Gosford based club will be expecting improvement right from the very start in season 2019/20.
With the returning Daniel De Silva, exciting young prospect Sam Silvera and new recruit Zygmunt Gordon off to solid starts in the pre-season FFA Cup matches, the Mariners have impressed with a much harder edge and far better structures under the former Matildas manager.
Western Sydney will be looking to new internationals Alex Meier and Pirmin Schwegler in the hope they will provide that cutting edge that was missing from the Wanderers’ play for much of last season.
Prediction
It is hard to see anything but a Wanderers win on their home deck, especially considering all the emotion and passion sure to be present in celebration of their new digs.
The Mariners too will come for the fight and may be able to hold the home side to a draw with the improved defence they displayed during the cup competition.
Something tells me that dreams do come true however. Western Sydney to win.
Catch all the action on The Roar live coverage from 5pm (AEDT).
Where: Bankwest Stadium, Sydney
When: Saturday 12th October 2019, 5pm (AEDT)
TV: Fox Sports, ABC
Betting: Western Sydney $1.48 Draw $4.00 Central Coast Mariners $4.80
Western Sydney Wanderers
1.Daniel Lopar (Gk), 4.Dylan Mcgowan, 5.Daniel Georgievski, 6.Matthew Jurman, 7.Mitchell Duke (C), 11.Bruce Kamau, 13.Tass Mourdoukoutas, 14.Alex Meier, 16.Mathieu Cordier, 17.Keanu Baccus, 19.Pirmin Schwegler, 21.Tarek Elrich, 22.Nicholas Sullivan, 23.Kosta Grozos, 27.Kwame Yeboah, 29.Daniel Wilmering, 34.Patrick Ziegler, 35.Mo Adam, 37.Jake Trew, 40.Nicholas Suman (Gk)
Central Coast Mariners
1.Mark Birighitti (Gk), 2.Ian Zygmunt Gordon, 3.Jack Clisby, 6.Giancarlo Gallifuoco, 7.Milan Duric, 8.Michael Mcglinchey, 9.Jordan Murray, 10.Thomas Oar, 11.Daniel De Silva, 12.Adam Pearce (Gk), 14.Abraham Majok, 15.Kye Rowles, 16.Dylan Fox, 17.Samuel Silvera, 18. Gianni Stensness, 22.Jacob Melling, 23.Mario Shabow, 26.Joshua Nisbet
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