Over the four seasons of the Hyundai A-League there have been some classic encounters between Sydney FC and the Central Coast Mariners, with clashes between the two teams typically high scoring, and always enthralling.
Over the four seasons of the Hyundai A-League there have been some classic encounters between Sydney FC and the Central Coast Mariners, with clashes between the two teams typically high scoring, and always enthralling.
The most recent chapter in the fierce rivalry was written in round-10 of the current competition when the Mariners fought back from a three-goal half-time deficit to share the points with Sydney, and the Sky Blues are still stinging.
“That-s still fresh in our minds I think,” said Sydney Captain, Steve Corica. “We were winning three-nil and they came back to three-all, that hurts a lot still and we-ve got to put that right for this weekend.”
On paper John Kosmina-s men hold a handy advantage over their Northern neighbours, having won six of the twelve meetings between the teams – twice as many as the Mariners, and three of the five games played in Gosford.
On most occasions though, a single goal is all that-s separated the sides in the end, and the Sky Blues know winning this weekend will be no easy task.
“They-re the kind of team that never gives up. If we go in front they fight back, and then we fight back again, so I think there-s a lot of attacking football, end to end stuff, which is obviously good for the fans to watch,” said Corica.
“It-s going to be a big game, we need to get the three points, and obviously away from home as well. We-ve got a lot of games coming up away from home so we need to pick up points.”
There-ll plenty at stake for both sides in the Bluetongue Stadium contest.
Having turned a corner in recent weeks Sydney will be out to consolidate its place among the top teams, while the Central Coast will be determined to put itself back in the finals- picture after being squeezed out of the top four last weekend.
The round-fifteen fixture gets underway in Gosford at 7pm this Saturday.
