A-League – Match Preview – Central Coast Mariners vs Sydney FC

A-League – Match Preview – Central Coast Mariners vs Sydney FC

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Sydney FC have enjoyed remarkable success in the Asian Champions League this season, but need a domestic revival against the Central Coast Mariners.

Graham Arnold’s side secured a surprise 1-0 win against Pohang Steelers on Wednesday night to go top of Group H in the ACL, but they find themselves three points adrift of a finals spot in the A-League thanks to Perth Glory’s mid-season revival.

The Sky Blues have failed to win in their last eight domestic outings and now look set to miss out on the top six just twelve months after making grand final.

The Mariners are now simply playing for what little pride they have left after last week’s loss to Perth secured the club’s first-ever last-place finish in A-League history. Is Sydney cannot break their horror run of form now, it will not happen this season.

Key Battle – Shane Smeltz vs Jake McGing

Sydney’s struggles in front have goal have been well-documented this season, only outscoring the Mariners and the Jets with their 28 goals. However in Shane Smeltz, the Sky Blues have one of the most predatory finishers in A-League history. The New Zealand international has found his chances limited in recent weeks despite starting against Wellington last week, but against the league’s worst defence there are bound to be gaps that the 34-year-old can exploit.


CrownBet match odds at time of publishing 

Sydney FC – $1.58

Central Coast – $5.00

Draw – $4.25


It’s been a rough debut season in the A-League for Jake McGing, shifted in and out of the starting eleven like many of his teammates as Tony Walmsley searched for a winning formula. The 22-year-old has shown promise as a ball-playing defender, but the occasional lapse in concentration has seen him caught out more than once this season. If McGing can turn in a complete performance in the heart of defence, an upset could be on the cards.

Team News

With the wooden spoon already on the way to Gosford, Tony Walmsley could experiment with a different line-up, but with only two home games left to win back disillusioned fans a competitive XI is a must. Thanks to red cards for both Mitch Austin and Luis Garcia on the weekend Joshua Bingham could make a return to the starting side, with Liam Rose a potential option in the playmaker role.

Central Coast Mariners expected starting XI (4-3-3): Izzo; Poscoliero, Ascroft, McGing, J. Rose; Montgomery, Neill; Ferreira, L. Rose, Bingham; O’Donovan.

Sydney FC will like rotate their squad following their midweek commitments, with youngsters Aaron Calver, Rhyan Grant, Brandon O’Neill set to be brought into the fold alongside the experienced heads of David Carney, Filip Holosko and Shane Smeltz.

Sydney FC expected starting XI (4-4-2): Janjetovic; Calver, Ryall, Jurman, Grant; Tavares, O’Neill; Stambolziev, Carney, Holosko; Smeltz.

Head-to-head

Central Coast Mariners 11, Sydney FC 15, Drawn 7.

Previous Meeting

These two sides met on Boxing Day at Allianz Stadium, with the Sky Blues walking away with a 4-1 win. A first-half red card to Paul Izzo and two penalties, converted by Alex Brosque and Mickael Tavares, saw Sydney enter the break with a 3-1 lead. The Mariners never looked capable of coming back into the match during the second half and eventually conceded a late fourth when Jake McGing turned the ball into his own net.

Prediction

Sydney FC should come away with the points against a Mariners outfit missing two of their key attacking players in Garcia and Austin, regardless of their travel due to the Asian Champions League.

Central Coast Mariners 1 Sydney FC 2

*CrownBet odds at time of publishing are subject to change

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