Sydney FC will rue a number of missed chances and a crucial VAR decision which went against them, after going down to a first defeat of the season against Central Coast Mariners at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Sydney FC 0 def by Central Coast Mariners 2 (Warland (O.G.) 54’, Kuol 75’)
Sydney FC will rue a number of missed chances and a crucial VAR decision which went against them, after going down to a first defeat of the season against Central Coast Mariners at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Moments That Mattered:
- GRANT CHANCE – 14′ – A clever free kick from Brattan finds the near post run of Grant whose close range effort is just palmed away at the last by Birighitti
- BARBAROUSES CHANCE – 30’ – King cuts the ball back for the Sky Blues forward who attempts to wrap his foot around the ball on a quick swivel but it goes just wide.
- CACERES CHANCE – 41’ – A beautifully worked corner leads to Caceres finding the ball, creating space and smacking a low driven effort which whistles past the right hand post.
- BUHAGIAR DISALLOWED GOAL – 50’ – Buhagiar finishes off Barbarouses’ squared ball but the flag goes up for offside in the lead up play. VAR replays show an extremely tight decision and the offside decision stands.
- WARLAND OWN GOAL – 54’ – Warland’s outstretched foot skims the ball from Bouman’s low driven cross just enough to wrong foot Redmayne and give the visitors the lead.
- KUOL GOAL – 75’ – A couple of ricochets lead to the ball popping up for the Mariners substitute whose further deflected effort finds the net.
- SWIBEL CHANCE – 83’ – A pinpoint direct ball from Baumjohann finds the run in behind from Swibel who blasts an effort towards goal but it clatters into Birighitti and is cleared away.
Another rapid start for the Sky Blues saw a flash of half chances fall their way in the early part of the match.
Grant and Caceres came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first stanza, whilst a resolute and structured Sydney FC defence limited the visitor’s efforts.
Two major flash points of the contest ensued shortly after the restart at both ends of the pitch.
A disallowed goal for the Sky Blues for Buhagiar in a tight offside call during the build-up was shortly followed by an unfortunate own goal by Warland who in his attempt to prevent Simon, got enough of a touch to send the ball past Redmayne.
Head Coach Steve Corica’s men pressed for a way to get back into the contest however it was the Mariners who doubled the lead on the counter through a deflected effort from substitute Kuol.
Central Coast saw out the game sitting deep in their half as Sydney FC peppered the final third but the comeback wasn’t to be.
Sydney FC will look to bounce back in the first match up against cross-city side Macarthur FC on Saturday at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
What they said
Head Coach Steve Corica: “We dominated most of that game, got into good areas just lacked that final pass into the box.
‘It was similar to last week, but I think we created more entries into the box this time.”
“That’s the way football goes sometimes you have just got to move on.”
Sydney FC: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 3. Ben WARLAND, 4. Alex WILKINSON, 8. Paulo RETRE (5. Alexander BAUMJOHANN 67’), 10. Milos NINKOVIC, 11. Kosta BARBAROUSES (27. Jordi SWIBEL 75’), 12. Trent BUHAGIAR (33. Patrick WOOD 76’), 16. Joel KING, 17. Anthony CACERES (6. Ryan McGOWAN 86’), 23. Rhyan GRANT, 26. Luke BRATTAN.
Subs: 20. Tom HEWARD-BELLE, 21. Harry Van Der SAAG, 28. Calem NIEUWENHOF.
Yellow Cards: 8. Paulo RETRE 37′
Red Cards: None.
Central Coast Mariners: 1. Mark BIRIGHITTI (GK), 4. Josh NISBET, 5. Stefan NIGRO, 6. Gianni STENSNESS, 8. Oliver BOZANIC, 10. Daniel De SILVA (26. Jaden CASSELLA 90+2’), 11. Jack CLISBY (23. Daniel HALL 90’), 14. Daniel BOUMAN (30. Jordan SMYLIE 67’), 15. Kye ROWLES, 19. Matt SIMON (29. Alou KUOL 67’), 21. Ruon TONGYIK.
Subs: 20. Adam PEARCE, 12. Marcos URENA, 25. Matthew HATCH.
Yellow Cards: 14. Daniel BOUMAN 43’, 19. Matt SIMON 45+1′
Red Cards: None.
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Oval.
Referee: Ben Abrahams.
