A-League – Player Ratings – Central Coast Mariners 2 Sydney FC 2

A-League – Player Ratings – Central Coast Mariners 2 Sydney FC 2

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The Central Coast Mariners produced a stirring comeback to secure a 2-2 draw with Sydney FC at Central Coast Stadium.

The visitors took an early lead after George Blackwood scored his first A-League goal from the edge of the box, before Shane Smeltz doubled the Sky Blues’ advantage in stoppage time with a clinical finish.

Sydney had plenty of chances to put the game to bed, but their lack of finishing cost them badly as Roy O’Donovan and Harry Ascroft scored late goals to salvage a point for the Mariners. Graham Arnold’s side are now winless in nine A-League matches now and look set to miss the finals.

Central Coast Mariners

Paul Izzo – 5.5: Made some good saves, but his distribution continues to give easy possession to opponents.

Jacob Poscoliero– 6: Clearly the best option for the injured Storm Roux at right back, but does not offer the same threat going forward as the injured New Zealand international.

Harry Ascroft – 6.5: Grossly caught out by Shane Smeltz for Sydney’s second goal, offering the New Zealand international too much space from the free-kick. Redeemed himself superbly with an acrobatic goal-line clearance in the second half and the winning goal, even if the keeper should have saved it.

Jake McGing – 5.5: Struggled in the first half, but turned in a much-improved second half to stop Sydney from running away with the points and let his teammates mount the comeback.

Michael Neill – 5.5: Made some vital interceptions to break up Sydney’s attacking rhythm, but his play going forward was lacking.

Liam Rose – 6: The 18-year-old was continually overrun in the middle of the park by the likes of O’Neill, Tavares and Blackwood in the first half, but provided a calm head on the ball in the second half as his side fought back for a point.

Nick Montgomery – 5: Once again sprinted around the middle of the park to try and grind his side ahead, but often left gaping holes in the midfield and substituted at the break.

Fabio Ferreira – 5.5: Had to shoulder much of the attacking responsibility due to the suspensions of Austin and Garcia, but was not at his explosive best. A snap shot in the first half was his best effort, flashing just wide of the post.

Josh Rose – 6: Pushed forward due to Austin’s suspension, but despite some good balls forward to the strikers proved to be another defensive liability.

Josh Bingham – 5: The young striker did well in the air, but once the ball was at his feet seemed to struggle to make the right decision.

Roy O’Donovan – 6.5: The Irishman celebrated the birth of his son during the week, but was unable to celebrate a win. Created a few good chances with runs in behind the defence and got himself on the scoresheet with a fine volley in the dying minutes.

Substitutes

Francesco Stella – 5: Brought on at the break to help chase the game, but consistently made the wrong choice going forward and offered very little defensively.

Matt Fletcher – 6: Brought on late for Bingham and provided a fine assist for O’Donovan’s goal.

Trent Buhagiar – N/A: Failed to play a major role in the fightback.

 

Sydney FC

Vedran Janjetovic – 5: Let the equaliser slip through his fingers in a must-win match, but his teammates should have put the game to bed long before that moment.

Seb Ryall – 6: Not tested too often on his flank, but was passed by Matthew Fletcher in the cross for Roy O’Donovan’s goal.

Zac Anderson – 5.5: Caught ball-watching on the first goal for the Mariners, ruining what was going to be a good performance against his old club.

Jacques Faty – 6: Had a physical contest with O’Donovan throughout the match and was solid until being overwhelmed in the final minutes by a sea of Mariners players.

Rhyan Grant – 5.5: Full of running and energy in the first half, but faded badly as the Mariners surged back for a point.

Mickael Tavares – 6: Was not a vintage performance from the Senegalese midfielder but enough to control the centre of the park before being substituted for Dimitrijevic.

Brandon O’Neill – 6.5: Perfectly complemented the traits of Tavares, bossing the middle of the park and showing great creativity to set up Shane Smeltz for his side’s second goal. Overrun in the final minutes as the home side secured a two-goal comeback.

Filip Holosko – 5: Hardly a bad performance from the Slovakian forward, but thoroughly outplayed by his rookie teammate Blackwood despite a midweek start.

David Carney – 5.5: Created a myriad of good opportunities with his teammates but was not at his most clinical, allowing the home side back into the match.

Shane Smeltz – 6: Essentially anonymous for the first 45 minutes of play, but showed his predatory instincts to score his side’s second in first half stoppage time. Nearly bagged a second early in the second stanza

George Blackwood – 8: Made a lot of space in front of the Mariners’ defence and scored his first A-League goal with a well-taken shot from the edge of the box. Given a rest around the hour mark after starting in Korea and was forced to watch his teammates capitulate.

Substitutes

Matt Simon – 5: Had little impact against his former club.

Milos Dimitrijevic – N/A: Bystander as the Mariners fought their way back to a draw.

Robert Stambolziev – N/A: Stoppage time change with no impact.

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