Sydney FC have moved to within two points of the Isuzu-Ute A-League summit after a fantastic 3-2 comeback win over Central Coast Mariners at Leichhardt Oval.
Sydney FC 3 (Caceres pen 45’, 80’, Bobô 71’) def Central Coast Mariners 2 (Bozanic 53’, Cummings 57’)
Moments That Mattered:
CACERES SHOT OVER – 7’ – Caceres tricks his way past a defender on the corner of the box to fashion a shooting chance and hits his strike just over.
URENA HITS POST – 20’ – Urena runs at the Sydney FC defence and hits a right foot shot which catches the outside edge of Heward-Belle’s right hand post.
HEWARD-BELLE TIPS OVER – 28’ – A Bozanic shot is deflected and loops high towards the back corner of the goal but Heward-Belle back-peddles and pushes it over.
BUHAGIAR SHOOTS WIDE – 34’ – Buhagiar is sent clear by Amini and when one on one with Birighitti puts his shot into the side-netting.
HEWARD-BELLE SAVE – 35’ – Cummings strikes on goal and Heward-Belle makes a diving save to keep the ball out.
BUHAGIAR SHOT TIPPED OVER – 44’ – Birighitti tips over Buhagiar’s shot from a tight angle.
CACERES GOAL – 45’ – Talbot’s goal-bound shot hits the arm of Farrell in the box and Caceres steps up to drill the ball into the corner from the penalty spot.
TALBOT OFF THE LINE – 52’ – A scramble in the box results in Urena shooting and Talbot clearing off the line after throwing his body at the ball.
BOZANIC GOAL – 53’ – A corner is fed back to Bozanic who takes a touch and places the ball into the top corner.
KAMSOBA CHANCE – 55’ – Caceres cuts the ball back to Kamsoba who shoots side-footed but Birighitti saves.
CUMMINGS GOAL – 57’ – Cummings picks the ball up on the edge of the box and shoots in off both posts.
BOBÔ GOAL – 71’ – Burgess’ cross goes all the way through to Bobô who controls it on his chest and smashes the ball home.
CACERES GOAL – 80’ – Burgess wins the ball plays Kamsoba into the channel and he cuts it back for Caceres to bury it.
AMINI SHOT SAVED – 82’ – Amini shoots from range and Birighitti dives full length to save it.
BURGESS & KAMSOBA CLOSE – 87’ – Burgess drives at the Mariners defence, cuts inside and shoots. It’s saved and the ball comes out to Kamsoba who hits it first time over the bar!
What They Said: Steve Corica: “I’m very happy with the result but I think the way we played was really good today.
“In the first half we should have been up 2 or 3 nil and then in the second half they scored two goals and we were chasing the game but they showed character in coming back, it was sensational.
“Bobô came on and scored, Caceres is starting to score goals now which is really good for his confidence.
“Mariners are a tough team to play and they will always fight back so I’m really pleased with the result.”
Match Report
Sydney FC has produced a fabulous 3-2 comeback win over Central Coast Mariners to move within two points of the Isuzu-Ute A-League summit.
Missing a number of players to international duty, along with injuries to other key players, the Sky Blues showed they have a squad ready to challenge.
Anthony Caceres opened the scoring from the penalty spot on the stroke of half time after Farrell handballed.
It was what Sydney FC deserved from a half in which they created a number of good chances through Buhagiar.
Early in the second half the Mariners hit back to take the lead with two goals in four minutes from range by Bozanic and Cummings.
The Sky Blues still looked dangerous and substitute Bobô equalized controlling Burgess’ cross before smashing the ball home.
Caceres then secured the three points with a well worked goal involving Burgess and Kamsoba before the midfielder lifted the ball into the net to score his second.
Sydney FC: 20. Tom HEWARD-BELLE (GK), 2. James DONACHIE, 4. Alex WILKINSON, 5. Connor O’TOOLE, 6. Mustafa AMINI, 8. Paulo RETRE, 10. Milos NINKOVIC (22. Max BURGESS 68’), 12. Trent BUHAGIAR (9. BOBÔ 63’), 17. Anthony CACERES, 25. Callum TALBOT (21. Harry VAN DER SAAG 63’), 27. Elvis KAMSOBA (3. Ben WARLAND 90’).
Unused Subs: 40. Adam PAVLESIC, 24. Corey HOLLMAN, 31. Adrian SEGECIC.
Yellow Cards: Amini 9’, Retre 65’.
Red Cards: None.
Central Coast Mariners: 1. Mark BIRIGHITTI, 3. Lewis MILLER (7. Cy GODDARD 86’), 8. Oliver BOZANIC, 9. Jason CUMMINGS (27. Nicolai MULLER 63’), 10. Mattheus MORESCHE (4. Josh NISBET 45’), 11. Beni NKOLOLO (28. James BAYLISS 68’), 12. Marcos URENA, 18. Jacob FARRELL, 21. Ruon TONGYIK, 23. Daniel HALL, 34. Harrison STEELE (25. Matt HATCH 68’).
Subs: 50. Lawrence CARUSO (GK), 35. Cameron WINDUST.
Yellow Cards: Urena 15’, Cummings 29’.
Red Cards: None.
Venue: Leichhardt Oval.
Referee: Kurt Ams.
