Mariners and Sharks fight it out for a point
Relegation threatened Central Coast Mariners shared the points with the Sutherland Sharks in a tense 0-0 draw at Pluim Park on Sunday evening.
The match saw plenty of opportunities at both ends of the park but neither team was able to convert their chances to light up the scoreboard.
The single point will still be valuable to both teams as they look to climb their way away from the bottom end of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s ladder as the competition approaches the pointy end of the season.
Max Miller sent a left-footed ball into Ahmed Elhelou in the area in the 6th minute of the match to create an opportunity for the hosts, however the attacker couldn’t get a strike away.
Miller sent a ball towards the target moments later but Sharks ‘keeper Danijel Nizic was able to comfortably collect.
A free kick in the 18th minute gave Sutherland a chance but Mohamed Ahmed headed the ball over the crossbar.
The visitors had a golden opportunity in the 30th minute as Maki Petratos stripped the Mariners of the ball and sent a shot at the goal, but Central Coast ‘keeper Joel Wade managed to tip the shot onto the crossbar.
Sutherland pushed forward in the 34th minute as Yianni Nikolau received the ball from Petratos at close range, but his effort was denied and Michael Paragalli was able to clear the ball off the line.
Jai Rose sent a confident shot towards the target in the 45th minute but it flew directly to Nizic.
Sutherland had a promising opportunity in the 60th minute through a free kick.
Tariq Maia sent the ball into the area, meeting Lachlan Fields, but Fields guided the ball over the crossbar.
Lachlan McDonald looked poised to open the scoring in the 65th minute as he sent a powerful strike towards the goal but Wade was able to tap it out of contention.
Joel Wade managed a crucial save to keep the visitors at bay in the 75th minute after McDonald swung a ball in to substitute Matthew Jackson, who tapped the ball towards the target from close range.
The hosts created an opportunity in the 79th minute as Rose laid a ball off for Ty KcKibbin, whose effort flew above the crossbar.
Kotaro Katsuta sent a fierce strike blazing towards the target from range in the 88th minute, but it skewed slightly high and flew over the crossbar.
A chance for the Sharks came in the 2nd minute of injury time after they earned a free kick on the right flank.
Substitute Marcus Fernandez tried his luck at an overhead kick to get the ball into the net but couldn’t reach the target.
McDonald sent an impressive cross into the area in the third minute of injury time but no Sharks player was able to get on the end of the ball, seeing the match end in a goalless draw.
The point kept the Mariners in 15th position, three adrift of 14th placed Western Sydney Wanderers while the Sharks remained in 13th spot still not out of the relegation dogfight currently happening in NSW’s top tier Men’s competition.
Match Stats
Central Coast Mariners FC 0
Sutherland Sharks FC 0
Sunday July 6th, 2025
Pluim Park, Lisarow
Referee: Michael Weiner
Assistant Referees: Oliver Leanfore and Joshua Watkins
Fourth Official: Simon Ashari
Central Coast Mariners FC: 3. Michael Paragalli, 9. Ahmad Elhelou (13. Logan Sambrook 75’), 10. Ayouk Mow (26. Flynn Richards 73’), 11. Jai Rose, 12. Ty McKibbin, 21. Muginga Mpota (17. Jesse Mantell 61’), 22. Shumba Mutokoyi, 24. Kye Schumacher, 35. Max Miller, 38. Harrison Jablonski, 40. Joel Wade
Substitutes Not Used: 6. Jordan Small, 14. Angus Reid, 20. Jai Ajanovic,
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Sutherland Sharks FC: 1. Danijel Nizic, 2. Lachlan McDonald, 4. Lachlan Fields, 6. Mohamed Ahmed, 10. Yerasimakis Petratos (7. Jaden Gasking 58’), 11. Yianni Nicolaou, 14. Leo Mazis (15. Marcus Fernandez 85’), 19. Tariq Maia, 22. Kotaro Katsuta, 23. Mason Fernandez (58. Matthew Jackson 66’), 44. Tye McGowan (8. Nicholas Sullivan 46’)
Substitutes Not Used: 3. Jordan Roberts, 30. Sebastian Arranz
Yellow Cards: McDonald 85’
Red Cards: Nil
3 – Lachlan McDonald (SS)
2 – Joel Wade (CCM)
1 – Tariq Maia (SS)
