United 58 winning streak broken by relegation threatened Mariners

Bottom placed Central Coast Mariners produced a gutsy victory over Sydney United 58, stunning their opponents 3-1 on Sunday afternoon at Pluim Park. 

It was a huge result for the young Mariners who needed the victory in their pursuit of avoiding direct relegation as the win put them within two-points of 15th placed Mt Drutt Town Rangers. The victory also snapped United 58’s seven successive game winning streak which included two Cup matches.

Ahmad Elhelou opened the scoring in the first half before Jai Rose doubled their advantage soon after halftime.

Alessandro Lacalandra pulled a goal back for United 58 later in the second period, but Elhelou’s second in stoppage time earned the home side a much-needed three points.

United 58 had plenty of territory in the first 10 minutes as they sought to snatch an early lead against the struggling Mariners.

The Mariners had a good chance to open the scoring in the 17th minute, when a left-sided cross found Ayouk Mow at the far post, who headed narrowly wide.

Central Coast came close again two minutes later, Ahmad Elhelou successfully battled for the ball on the edge of the area before blazing the ball narrowly over.

The visitors returned fire in the 24th minute through Carlos De Oliveira, who fired a powerful effort from range that forced Joel Wade into a sharp, low save.

Three minutes later, Central Coast carried on their attacking impetus. Jai Rose with a dipping volley that dropped just past the right post.

The opportunities continued to flow, and in the 31st minute, United 58 produced a shot. Aiden Milicevic took on a curler from the left of the box, which nearly clipped the right post.

However, with 10 regular first-half minutes to play, Central Coast took a well-deserved lead. Rose snatched the ball on the halfway line, driving forward before finding Elhelou, who rolled a smart finish into the bottom left corner.

The away side almost restored parity in the 43rd minute as Patrick Antelmi took on a shot from the right of the box that flashed wide.

The hosts took their slender lead into halftime.

Central Coast carried on their momentum after the break within two minutes as Kye Schumacher drew a superb right-handed save from Orlovic.

In the 53rd minute, Milicevic showed promise for the away side again and managed to get a shot off from the middle of the box, which Wade repelled excellently.

Two minutes later, Rose added a much-needed second for the Mariners. The attacker set off on a run forward before lashing the ball inside the left post.

On the hour mark, the side could have had a third as Rose produced a darting run through midfield, finding Muginga Mpota, who forced Orlovic into a low save at his right post.

The game continued its end-to-end style as Matthew Hatch took the ball down the other end for United 58, blasting a shot straight at Wade.

Sydney United 58 clawed their way back into the game in the 67th minute. Mason Wells drilled in a right-sided cross towards Lacalandra, who tapped the ball into an open goal.

The side then survived a chaotic goalmouth scramble moments later, the ball cannoning off the post following a corner before being cleared.

Wells remained a source of creativity for United 58, and in the 76th minute, he shifted the ball inside from the right, testing Wade with a stop at his near post.

With three regular minutes to play, the hosts could have sealed the win when Elhelou went clean through on goal, but Orlovic got enough on the shot to see the ball bounce onto the post.

United 58’s hopes of a comeback were dashed in the final minute of regular time when goalkeeper Orlovic saw red for an off-the-ball incident.

The consequence was a penalty for the Mariners and a chance to secure a vital win. Elhelou took responsibility and saw his effort saved, before bundling home the rebound.

Elhelou’s second goal was the final action of an action-packed Mariners’ victory over Sydney United 58.

Match Stats

Central Coast Mariners FC 3 (Ahmad Elhelou 35’ 90+3’, Jai Rose 55’)

Sydney United 58 FC 1 (Alessandro Lacalandra 67’)

Sunday 22 June 2025 

Pluim Park, Lisarow

Referee: Kelly Jones

Assistant Referees: Thomas Dale and Lucy Hungerford

Fourth Official: Alana Zic

Central Coast Mariners FC: 40. Joel Wade, 2. Luca Pecora, 3. Michael Paragalli, 5. Ben Mewett, 9. Ahmad Elhelou (12. Ty McKibbin 90+4’), 10. Ayouk Mow (26. Flynn Richards 88’), 11. Jai Rose (38. Harrison Jablonski 90+4’), 21. Muginga Mpota (14. Angus Reid 71’), 22. Shumba Mutokoyi, 23. Laurence Taylor (17. Jesse Mantell 71’), 24. Kye Schumacher

Substitutes Not Used: 20. Jai Ajanovic

Yellow Cards: Kye Schumacher 73’, Flynn Richards 90+1’

Red Cards: Nil

Sydney United 58 FC: 31. Josip Orlovic, 3. Bailey Rule (20. Adrian-Jamie Bazina 90+1’), 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 5. Anthony Tomelic (14. Liam McGing 63’), 9. Patrick Antelmi (13. Alessandro Lacalandra 46’), 10. Carlos De Oliveira, 11. Matthew Hatch, 17. Michael Glassock, 19. Aiden Milicevic (6. Thomas Makko 78’), 23. Mason Wells, 32. Leroy Jennings (8. Mario Shabow 63’)

Substitutes Not Used: 22. Stephan De Robillard

Yellow Cards: Bailey Rule 8’, Matthew Hatch 21’

Red Cards: Josip Orlovic 90’

Player Ratings: 

3 – Jai Rose (CCM)

2 – Ahmad Elhelou (CCM)

1 – Mason Wells (SU58)

Report by Tim Gibson