Two goals in two minutes sees Mariners defeat Sydney United 58
Pluim Park was treated to some high drama and excitement as the Central Coast Mariners recorded its first victory at home thanks to a 2-1 come from behind victory over Sydney United 58 on Sunday.
The match began slowly, but with Sydney United 58 on top.
The visitors dominated the early possession and did well the hold the Mariners down their end for the majority of the half.
It was the Mariners who had the first big chance, though, with Cam Windust climbing high off a Miguel Di Pizio corner, but the resulting header fell just wide.
Five minutes later in the 33rd minute there was a chaotic scramble in the Mariners penalty area after Pat Beach failed to find a teammate trying to play out from the back. Defender Dean Larson headed away a shot on target from the goal line, but Aydan Hammond was deemed to foul a United 58 attacker inside the box.
Former Mariner Chris Payne sent Beach the wrong way and calmly converted the penalty.
The Mariners almost found a reply before half time when Di Pizio played a brilliant, lobbed ball over the top of the United 58 backline. Olayinka Sunmola was the recipient of the pass and fired his shot on the edge of the penalty area, but it was expertly blocked by experienced defender Yianni Fragogiannis.
The first major action of the second half came in the 64th minute when Payne had a great chance to grab a brace. A tasteful low cross found Payne but his first-time effort failed to trouble the Mariners goal.
George Daniel had a powerful strike on goal just a minute later, but it was straight at Danijel Nizic.
His opposition number Pat Beach made a fantastic diving save to deny Sydney United 58 their second goal of the game in the 66th minute, with the Mariners now taking more risks in search of an equaliser.
The extra bodies pushing forward pinned back Sydney United 58 as they tried to hold onto their one-goal lead, but in the 87th minute Maksim Kasalovic put his body on the line and whilst trying to head the ball, Andreas Agamemnonos’ boot collected him in the face inside the penalty area.
The penalty was perfectly placed into the bottom-left corner by Lachlan Bayliss, just beating the outstretched arm of Nizic.
Only one minute later the Mariners were in dreamland and struck again to take the lead late on at Pluim Park. Lachlan Bayliss delivered a perfect low cross and George Daniel tapped it home first-time to take all three points.
Mariners manager Abbas Saad says the victory was nothing short of what they deserved.
“We pushed for it and we earned it,” he said.
“I said to the boys at half time that I’d be disappointed with a draw. I want to win.
“I knew if we played quicker in the second half that they’d get tired, and they did, and we did them out wide.
“I’m not taking anything away from Sydney United 58, they’re a very good team. But for us to beat them, and Rockdale last week, and we’ve competed with Olympic and APIA, we’ve proved that we belong in this league, and the boys are starting to realise it too.”
The victory for the Mariners is their first at Pluim Park all season, but the team spirit and togetherness is something that Saad is embracing, much like their A-League squad.
“Today and last week, the boys that came off the bench have contributed massively,” he said.
“We have a good squad, and we have to, because we’re young and we can’t rely on just 11 players, but that’s the Mariners way.
“We’re a family, and that’s the first words I write for them every week. Mariners equals family. It’s all about heart and teamwork.
“That’s what we are.”
Match Stats
Central Coast Mariners Academy 2 (L. Bayliss 88’pen, Daniel 89’)
Sydney United 58 FC 1 (Payne 35’pen)
Sunday 30th April, 2023
Pluim Park, Lisarow
Referee: Dany Horstead
Assistant Referees: Matt Staples, Gerrod Young
Fourth Official: Nicholas Kour
Central Coast Mariners: 30. Patrick Beach (GK), 2. Sasha Kuzevski, 4. Dean Larson, 5. Cameron Windust (c), 6. James Bayliss, 7. Aydan Hammond (23. Aiden Milicevic 67’), 8. Lachlan Bayliss (3. Joshua Hong 90+4’), 9. Miguel Di Pizio, 12. Olayinka Sunmola, 16. Will Arnold (18. George Daniel 57’), 21. Maksim Kasalovic
Substitutes Not Used: 40. Anthony Pavlesic (GK), 11. Bailey Brandtman, 22. Andre Parkes, 36. Zach Waddell
Yellow Cards: Kuzevski 90+4’
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney United 58 FC: 1. Danijel Nizic (GK), 3. Bailey Rule, 4. Adrian Vlastelica (c), 5. Anthony Tomelic, 6. Chris Payne (17. Matthew Bilic 80’), 7. Taisei Kaneko, 11. Yianni Perkatis (14. Adreas Agamemnonos 68’), 12. Kiyori Kawaguchi, 15. Tariq Maia (10. Devante Clut 60’), 21. Yianna Fragogiannis (16. Ante Bakmaz 68’), 22. Leroy Jennings (18. Glen Trifiro 60′)
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Luke Cukar (GK), 8. Jason Madonis
Yellow Cards: Yule 70’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Lachlan Bayliss (CCM)
2 – Dean Larson (CCM)
1 – Chris Payne (SU58)
-By Cameron Smith
