Mariners crack open Wanderers for vital victory
Central Coast Mariners secured a vital 5-3 win against a hapless Western Sydney Wanderers outfit at Wanderers Football Park on Wednesday night.
The Wanderers took the lead in the game but couldn’t get anything from this important game in the mid-week. Marcus Younis gave them the lead in the 11th minute then completed his brace in the 56th minute to make it 2-2 then assisted substitute Rushonn Tafunai who nodded home for 4-3.
Mariners showed remarkable grit to turn the contest around after being down 1-0 early in the game. Donatien Niyonkuru equalized in the 28th minute then Arthur De Lima gave them a lead right after half-time before a second goal from Niyonkuru made it 3-2. Substitutes Nicholas Duarte and Prayaag Thapa found the back of the net late to round off the win.
The visitors held much of the early possession and had a few half chances but the Wanderers defence held firm.
Western Sydney Wanderers struck from their first chance. Dylan Scicluna threaded in Younis who fired home for 1-0 in the 11th minute.
The goal scorer Younis tried to double his delight a few minutes later. He strode forward but sent his effort right at Mariners keeper Jack Warshawsky.
Mariners settled back into their groove and tried to find an equalizer. Lucas Scicluna tried his luck from distance but it was easily saved by Wanderers custodian Lucas Sinnott.
They did get a chance for an equalizer from the spot. Niyonkuru burst through and was taken down by Sinnott. Niyonkuru brushed himself off and made it 1-1 in the 28th minute.
Some quick thinking from the Wanderers almost sent in Phillip Gigliotti. He roamed towards goal but chipped it over the bar.
Next, Ryley Hollingdale stepped in to take the ball and rolled it to Awan Lul who took his effort right at Warshawsky.
The Wanderers kept having the lions share of the chances in the first half. Marcus Fernandez planted a cross onto Younis’ head which Warshawsky plunged to the right to save.
The hosts had the final effort of the half through Ryan Devine. He took the ball down well and thrashed his shot towards the bottom corner before Warshawsky intervened.
Coming out of the break, Mariners felt just fine. Arthur De Lima was first to react to the ball and fired home to make it 2-1 in the 47th minute.
Wanderers restored parity in the 56th minute through Younis again. It was another spectacular ball from Dylan Scicluna before the striker poked home for 2-2.
There was an almost instant response from the visitors. Taye Headley cut inside before he whacked a shot against the right post.
Mariners hit the front again in the 68th minute through Niyonkuru. Substitute Nicholas Duarte slid the ball to the striker before he rounded the keeper and slid home for 3-2.
The game remained an open affair to warm up a cold Wednesday night. Younis turned provider for substitute Dallo Sandy which forced Warshawsky into another save.
Niyonkuru almost laid on a fourth for the visitors. He cushioned a pass towards Luka Symth who curled his effort wide.
The Mariners made it 4-2 in the 84th minute. Luka Smyth weaved through the Wanderers defence then laid it off for substitute Nicholas Duarte to fire home.
Wanderers gave themselves a late lifeline through substitute Rushonn Tafunai. He got onto the end of a Younis cross to make it 4-3in the 89th minute.
Their task became monument after Evangelos Kalamvakis was given a red card. The resulted free kick from Duarte was pushed over the bar.
Mariners put icing on the result through another substitute. Prayaag Thapa smashed it home for 5-3 in the 95th minute.
Speaking afterwards Western Sydney Wanderers coach Andrew Christiansen reflected on a tough game for his side.
“It was disappointing overall, a lot of goals to concede but it gives this young group lessons to learn as they have all year. They’ll be disappointed now but they are new to NPL, backing up and will be better for it.” said Christiansen.
For Central Coast Mariners coach Lucas Vilela spoke about an important win for his side in the race to stay above the relegation zone.
“It was a top game between two young teams who play some good football and even better to get the result. It is a hard job to keep this young squad up, we have played well and haven’t got results but this gives us a boost for the rest of the season.” said Vilela.
Match Stats
Western Sydney Wanderers FC 3 (Younis ’11 ’56 Tafunai ‘89)
Central Coast Mariners FC 5 (Niyonkuru ’28 ‘68 De Lima ’47 Duarte ’84 Thapa ‘90+5)
Wednesday 12th June 2024
Wanderers Football Park
Referee: Kelly Jones
Assistant Referees: Nicholas Farmer & Lindsay Edmonds
Fourth Official: Thomas Dale
Western Sydney Wanderers: 6. Dylan Scicluna, 7. Marcus Younis, 16. Roman Culina, 18. Awan Lul (36. Dallo Sandy ’59), 20. Lucas Sinnott, 23. Marcus Fernandez (28. Luke Nieuwenhof ’53), 24. Anthony Barbic, 25. Ryley Hollingdale, 27. Julian Cop, 77. Phillip Gigliotti (45. Rushann Tafunai ’75), 99. Ryan Devine (29. Evangelos Kalamvokis ’59)
Unused subs: 12. Lachlan Tilt, 30. Marcus Petrovski
Yellow cards: Sinnott ’27 D Scicluna ’32 Culina ’61 Nieuwenhof ’79
Red cards: Kalamvokis ‘93
Central Coast Mariners FC: 1. Jack Warshawsky, 2. Michael Paragalli (9. Nicholas Duarte ’65), 3. Cher Deng, 5. Harry Menham, 6. Jordan Small, 8. Lucas Scicluna, 10. Luka Smyth (16. Prayaag Thapa ‘90+2), 11. Donatien Niyonkuru (17. Ethan Debono ’80), 12. Taye Hedley (4. Andre Parkes ’65), 23. Arthur De Lima (35. Haine Eames ‘90+2), 34. Parker Williams
Unused subs: 20. Jai Ajanovic
Yellow cards: L Scicluna ‘36
Red cards: nil
Player Ratings:
3: Donatien Niyonkuru (CCM)
2: Marcus Younis (WSW)
1: Dylan Scicluna (WSW)
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
