Defending Hyundai A-League Champions Sydney FC suffered a 4-0 defeat at the hands of the Central Coast Mariners at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday night.
Defending Hyundai A-League Champions Sydney FC suffered a 4-0 defeat at the hands of the Central Coast Mariners at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday night.
It was a disastrous start for the Sky Blues with the Mariners scoring in the opening minute of play through Adam Kwasnik before doubling their advantage in the fifth minute with a goal to Matt Simon.
The home team then pushed further ahead when Kwasnik collected his second in the 23rd minute. Any hope of a Sydney FC revival was soon then immediately snuffed out in the first minute of the second half when a Mariners cross was deflected off defender Sebastian Ryall into his own goal.
Sydney FC-s next match is against the league leading Brisbane Roar at the Sydney Football Stadium on Sunday December 12 (5pm kick-off).
On a positive note for the Sky Blues, the match marked the starting debuts of 17-year-old talents Terry Antonis and DImitri Petratos, with Antonis turning in a strong performance.
Coach Vitezslav Lavicka said Sydney FC must now show the mental strength it has been renowned for.
“Firstly I would like to congratulate the Mariners for their performance but let me say sorry to all Sydney FC supporters for tonight,” he said.
“There is no excuse for what we did tonight. The game was decided very early. We spoke about tactics before the game and we expected them to start aggressively especially after their result last week.
“Everything will be harder after this. Its football but we will have to show everyone the character of Sydney FC. It is important for us to recover right both mentally and physically for next weekend-s game.”
It took the Mariners just 29 seconds to add to the six goals that were scored at Bluetongue Stadium last week. Sydney FC was dispossessed on the halfway line, and the Mariners quickly launched a counter-attack through Mustafa Amini.
The youngster released a perfect pass that allowed Matt Simon to break away. Simon crossed the ball to a lurking Kwasnik who tapped it home.
The Mariners wouldn-t have to wait long for that second goal. The goal-scorer turned provider, releasing Rose with a perfectly timed through-ball that split the Sydney defence. Rose furthered the movement by crossing to a sprinting Simon. Simon showed tremendous presence of mind to beat a diving Necevski to the ball and net himself a splendid poacher-s goal.
After Kwasnik added his second, the Mariners went to the break full of confidence and sealed victory with the unfortunate own goal in the first minute of the second half.
Match Details:
Sydney FC: 0
Central Coast Mariners FC: 4 (Adam KWASNIK 1-, 23-, Matt SIMON 5-, Sebastian RYALL (og) 46-)
Sydney FC line-up: 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 2. Sebastian RYALL, 5. Hayden FOXE,
7. Brendan GAN (11. Kofi Danning 62-), 8. Stuart MUSIALIK (6. Hirofumi MORIYASU 40-), 12. Shannon COLE, 15. Terry McFLYNN (c), 16. Terry ANTONIS, 19. Mark BRIDGE, 22. Sung-Hwan BYUN, 24. Dimitri PETRATOS
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Liam REDDY (gk).
Yellow Cards: 2. Sebastian RYALL 20-, 15. Terry MCFLYNN 29-
Red Cards: Nil.
Goals: Nil.
Central Coast Mariners line-up: 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Pedj BOJIC (17. Chris DOIG 67-), 6. Patrick ZWAANSWIJK, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS (7. John HUTCHINSON 79-), 11. Oliver BOZANIC, 14. Michael MCGLINCHEY, 18. Alex WILKINSON, 19. Matt SIMON, 20. Matthew RYAN (gk), 22. Mustafa AMINI (10. Patricio PEREZ 62-), 23. Adam KWASNIK
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Paul HENDERSON (gk)
Yellow Cards: 22. Mustafa AMINI 32-
Red Cards: Nil.
Goals: 23. Adam KWASNIK 1-, 23-, 19. Matt SIMON 5-, 2 Sebastian RYALL 46- (og))
Referee: Matthew BREEZE
Crowd: 7160 at Bluetongue Stadium.
