Mariners five-match unbeaten run ends as Sydney FC prove too strong

Sydney FC secured a convincing 3-0 victory over relegation threatened Central Coast Mariners at Pluim Park on Sunday afternoon.

The visitors were hungry after five games without a win and took the lead through Joseph Calusic in the 11th minute.

Marin France then took Sydney FC’s tally to two in the 52nd minute, before scoring his second and the Sky Blues’ third in the 70th minute to put the nail in the coffin of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Round 25 clash.

The result saw the Mariners with their first loss in five matches as they continue to work to clear the relegation zone.

A corner in the 11th minute of the match gave Sydney FC a dangerous opportunity early on.

Taye Hedley sent the ball high into the area and after a clearance header from the Mariners the ball landed with France at the edge of the 18-yard-box.

France moved into space on the right side of the goal and sent the ball towards the target to Joel Wade who managed to deflect.

Calusic was quick to pounce on the deflection and tapped a left-footed shot across the line to open the scoring.

France was in action again in the 16th minute as he maneuvered his way forward and let off a shot, however it dribbled wide of the goal.

The hosts had a promising opportunity in the 23rd minute as Muginga Mptoa cut a ball across the goalface to Jai Rose, but the attacker wasn’t able to connect with the ball.

Sydney FC came close to another in the 43rd minute as Hedley sent a strike towards the goal, which was kept out by Wade.

France tried his luck with the rebound but the visitors’ effort was again kept out by Wade.

The hosts earned a dangerous free kick in the 49th minute as they looked to claw their way back into the match, however Mpota couldn’t guide the header to the target from Rose’s kick.

The visitors took it to two in the 52nd minute.

France got on the end of a throw-in from inside the area and took a few touches to create space before he fired an impressive strike into the netting.

France was hungry for more, scoring his second of the match in the 70th minute.

Hedley played a back-heeled ball to France inside the area, who fired it at the target.

Wade tried to deny but couldn’t manage to grip the ball, dropping it to roll over the line.

The loss for the Mariners sees them in 15th spot, two points behind the Sutherland Sharks and Western Sydney Wanderers and only a point above last placed Mt Druitt Town Rangers with only five matches to go.

Match Stats

Central Coast Mariners FC 0

Sydney FC 3 (Calusic 11’, France 52’, 70’)

Sunday July 27th, 2025

Pluim Park, Lisarow

Referee: Blake Sanchez-Cruz

Assistant Referees: James Makris and Owen Medcalf

Fourth Official: Jack Nelson

Central Coast Mariners FC: 3. Michael Paragalli, 10. Ayouk Mow (19. Noah Peacock 55’), 11. Jai Rose, 13. Logan Sambrook (26. Flynn Richards 55’), 21. Muginga Mpota (39. Harper Ryles 55’), 22. Shumba Mutokoyi, 23. Laurence Taylor (12. Ty McKibbin 61’), 24. Kye Schumacher (14. Angus Reid 73’), 35. Max Miller, 38. Harrison Jablonski, 40. Joel Wade

Substitutes Not Used:,, 20. Jai Ajanovic

Yellow Cards: Taylor 58’

Red Cards: Nil

Sydney FC: 3. Kyle Shaw, 4. Joseph Calusic, 10. Taye Hedley, 12. Alexander Zaverdinos, 15. Samuel Lancaster, 16. Nicholas Zdrillic (14. Jared Middleton 81’), 20. Oscar Gultekin, 27. Lachlan Middleton (19. Jay Maltz 65’), 33. Marin France ( 7. Nickolas Alfaro 72’), 39. Dylan Rose (6. Tyler Williams 81’), 47. Caelan Marshall-Witte

Substitutes Not Used: 1. Jacob Cremen-Cowan, 23. Junior Conde

Yellow Cards: Rose 48’, Zdrillic 74’

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings

3 – Marin France (SFC)

2 – Taye Hedley (SFC)

1 – Joseph Calusic (SFC)