Sky Blues defeat gallant Mariners
Central Coast Mariners did their utmost to secure a point albeit with nine-men but could not hold on as they went down 1-0 to Sydney FC in round 10 of the National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW competition played at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Friday evening.
The early running went with the Sky Blues as the game slowly started to hit fever pitch. Alen Harbas had a free-kick which thumped into the wall then a corner was swept away.
Central Coast Mariners FC soon responded with a corner of their own as former Sky Blue Ayouk Mow flicked a header wide of the mark.
The hosts press almost created the game’s opener. Taye Headley stepped in to win the ball and fired over the bar.
Sydney FC went even closer still in the 28th minute following a slick passing move that opened up for Harbas to turn home but the assistant’s flag was raised for offside.
It was the Mariners who had the best chance of the first half. Jai Rose weaved through defenders then forced Sydney FC custodian Gus Hoefsloot to plunge to his left to deny him.
A must win for both teams especially the visitors, the Central Coast Mariners were reduced to ten men in first half of stoppage time. Laurence Taylor saw red for his second offence in the 46th minute and their assignment got a little harder.
Sydney FC had the first shot of the second stanza as they looked to take advantage of the one extra man. Headley found space and fired straight at Mariners keeper Adam Pavlesic.
Further disaster struck the Mariners in the 57th minute as they were reduced to nine men. Shumba Mutokoyi saw red for a last man challenge and the hill just got tougher for the Mariners.
Harbas almost made the Mariners pay immeditaley from the resulted free-kick. He whipped it just wide of the right post.
Jai Rose continued to give the Sky Blues defence headaches. He latched onto a pass and shot first time past Hoefsloot’s post.
The deadlock was finally broken as Sydney FC made it 1-0 in the 74th minute. Substitute Mathias Macallister finished with aplomb after a neat move that saw the talented striker net his third goal of the NPL Men’s NSW season.
The hosts surged forward for a second in a bid to seal the game. Marin France unfurled from the edge of the area but Pavlesic claimed easily.
Sydney FC kept peppering the visitors with efforts. France had another then the goal scorer Macallister curled a free-kick over.
Joe Lacey had his dancing boots on late in the game. He forced Pavlesic into another fine save down to his left.
The Mariners were gifted one final chance after Arthur De Lima’s lungbusting run. He sent in the free-kick which the Sky Blues cleared.
De Lima almost produced a moment of magic in stoppage time. He curled a corner right onto the crossbar before Sydney FC could sweep it away.
The Sky Blues saw out the last seconds of the game and earned themselves a vital three points in the context of their season although the Mariners were praised for almost taking a point after being reduced to nine men.
Post match Sydney FC coach Jimmy Van Weeren reflected on a vital win for his side.
“I thought it was a good win for us.
“We were the better side before and after the red card and I’m happy for the boys.
“We can learn at seeing out games, being more intelligent and this group is capable of competing and the results are starting to follow,” said Van Weeren.
While for Central Coast Mariners FC coach Lucas Vilela, he remained proud of the effort of his side despite being reduced to nine men:
“I think it was a good game, pretty even in the first half before the red card.
“Sydney FC are a good academy and we knew it was a big challenge.
“My boys did amazing, 11 against 9 is usually one-sided but we fought well and almost snatched it at the end,” said Vilela.
Match Stats
Sydney FC 1 (Macallister ’74)
Central Coast Mariners FC 0
Friday 11 April 2025
Ilinden Sports Centre
Referee: Rowan Fisher
Assistant Referees: Jackson Mackie & Matthew Harris
Fourth Official: Damien Delovski
Sydney FC: 6. Tyler Williams, 8. Reef Farias (3. Kyle Shaw ’60), 10. Taye Headley, 14. Jared Middleton, 15. Samuel Lancaster (22. Zac Fowler ’65), 25. Alen Harbas (9. Mathias Macallister ’60), 29. Joe Lacey, 30. Gus Hoefsloot, 33. Marin France, 39. Dylan Rose, 47. Corey Cronin (23. Junior Conde ’72)
Unused subs: 4. Joseph Calusic,12. Alexander Zaverdinos
Yellow cards: Cronin ’55 Lacey ’69 Headley ’89 Shaw ‘90+2
Red cards: nil
Central Coast Mariners FC: 1. Adam Pavlesic, 2. Luca Pecora, 3. Michael Paragalli, 5. Ben Mewett, 7. Ayouk Mow (17. Jesse Mantell ’45 (12. Ty McKibbin ’83)), 10. Arthur De Lima, 11. Jai Rose (15. Freddie Clunas ’83), 22. Shumba Mutokoyi, 23. Laurence Taylor, 24. Kye Schumacher, 37. Bailey Brandtman (21. Muginga Mpota ’31(14. Angus Reid ’58))
Unused subs: 40. Joel Wade
Yellow cards: Mutokoyi ‘2 Taylor ‘30
Red cards: Taylor ‘45+1 Mutokoyi ‘56
Player Ratings:
3: Mathias Macallister (SFC)
2: Marin France (SFC)
1: Arthur De Lima (CCM)
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
