Mariners and Blacktown grind out one-all draw in explosive encounter
Central Coast Mariners and Blacktown City FC have played out a thrilling one-all draw at Pluim Park on Sunday afternoon.
Blacktown opened the account in the closing stages of the first stanza through a cheeky chip over the keeper from Julian Fernandez, before Mariner Cher Deng soared above all midway through the second half to secure a point for both teams in a crucial stage of the NPL Mens NSW competition.
The Mariners asserted their intentions from the outset. Nicholas Duarte fired from range and brought Tristan Prendergast into a save, before skipper Sasha Kuzevski’s free-kick attempt narrowly cleared the crossbar in the eighth minute.
Blacktown’s Mitchell Mallia proved threatening midway through the first half. The forward had mutliple strikes at goal while providing some dangerous crosses into the box.
City were lucky not to go down a man in the 38th minute. A sliding challenge from Danny Choi on Kuzevski was initially given a straight red card, before Ivica Covic reconsidered his decision and instead gave a yellow.
In the 41st minute, Taye Hedley’s strike at close range pounded off the crossbar, with the crucial miss going against them up the other end a minute later.
A pass over the top caught Jack Warshawsky in two minds as to either maintain his position or leave his line, with the keeper choosing the latter and Martin Fernandez capitalising with a well-weighted chip into goal for the opener.
Mallia again was in the action on the stroke of half time. Mallia danced around goal before laying off to Jacob Maniti, with Maniti’s attempt heroically saved by the outstretched Warshawsky to keep the score line at 1-0 at the half.
A timely intervention from Grant Lynch denied Luka Smyth and the Mariners the equaliser in the 51st minute, with the defender just getting his foot in between the ball and goal.
They had been huffing and puffing all game, and Central Coast finally bagged the equaliser in the 56th minute through Cher Deng.
Kuzevski whipped in a wicked cross into the area, with Deng soaring above all to head it home, his first of the season.
Blacktown had two close changes at goal in the 63rd minute, with Warshawsky standing tall to deny the leader.
Going chance for chance, Blacktown had the better in the 84th minute as Danny Choi whipped in a cross to a vacant Reuben Awaritefe, though his header couldn’t find the open goal.
In a feisty final stages, both teams chanced their arm, neither willing to die wondering. Central Coast’s Jordan Small forced Prendergast into a diving save, before Agieg Aluk couldn’t get his foot to Haine Eames cross as the clocked ticked away.
The match finishing a 1-1 draw.
After an energetic and confident performance from his men, Lucas Vilela spoke highly of his young sides’ resilient performances the past month, aiming to maintain their approach of treating every match with a ‘finals’ mentality.
“What is pleasing is to see the young team performing like that right until the end because in football not everything goes your way, but having experienced players like Sasha and Jack and others help the younger members flourish,” said Vilela.
“How the boys have handled themselves mirrors how we train them. We force them into mistakes and make them react accordingly and understand the process.
“We know we are behind on the table and need to play catch up. By playing a ‘finals every game’ mentality, that’s how the boys need to react to remain focused.
“We play as if every game is our last.”
Match Stats
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Deng 56’)
Blacktown City FC 1 (Fernandez 42’)
Sunday, 21st July 2024
Pluim Park, Lisarow
Referee: Ivica Covic
Assistant Referees: Oliver Udovicic & Blake Eastwood
Fourth Official: James Makris
Central Coast Mariners: 1. Jack Warshawksy (GK), 3. Cher Deng, 4. Parker Williams, 5. Harry Menham, 6. Jordan Small, 7. Arthur De Lima (21. Agieg Aluk 72’), 8. Lucas Scicluna, 9. Nicholas Duarte, 11. Donatien Niyonkuru (22. Rocco Smith 72’), 12. Taye Hedley (10. Luka Smyth, 46’), 27. Sasha Kuzevski (C) (35. Haine Eames 79’)
Unused Subs: 2. Michael Paragalli, 20. Jai Ajanovic
Yellow Cards: Jordan Small 90’
Red Cards:
Blacktown City FC: 1. Tristan Prendergast (GK), 5. Grant Lynch, 7. Travis Major, 10. Mario Shabow (C) (17. Martin Fernandez 18’), 12. Tyren Burnie, 14. Mitchell Mallia (19. Julian Rodriguez 78’), 16. Ben Berry (11. Danny Choi 31’), 16. Nicholas O’Brien (9. Reuben Awaritefe 78’), 22. Jacob Maniti, 22. Joey Gibbs, 24. Jackson Bandiera
Unused Subs: 20. Cayden Henderson
Yellow Cards: Danny Choi 37’, Nicholas O’Brien 74’, Jackson Bandiera 90’
Red Cards:
Player Ratings:
3: Mitchell Mallia (BCFC)
2: Cher Deng (CCM)
1: Sasha Kuzevski (CCM)
By Mitchell Roese (@mitchroese on Instagram)
