Sydney FC have secured a 4-1 win over the Central Coast Mariners, condemning them to a sixth straight loss in the A-League.
Both of these teams entered the match desperate for the three points and Sydney started the game perfectly, opening the scoring in the first two minutes. Andrew Hoole and Milos Ninkovic linked up brilliantly, with Alex Brosque getting the final touch.
A five minute period midway through the first half saw Sydney earn two penalties – the first earned by Milos Ninkovic after he was fouled by Jake McGing while the second saw Central Coast goalkeeper Paul Izzo receive a second yellow card and the Mariners go down to ten. Both spot kicks were converted.
Make up your own mind on the first penalty. Looks soft to me. #SYDvCCM https://t.co/0X5AW8FL2F
— AndyO (@Andyo26) December 26, 2015
Central Coast got one back just before half time, with centre back Harry Ascroft scoring his first ever A-League goal after a great cross in from Matt Sim.
A less eventful second half saw Sydney score one last goal, albeit through Mariners’ player McGing, with the defender getting the last touch off a Brandon O’Neill cross.
Something’s got to give at the Mariners
Central Coast have now lost six consecutive games and have set a new club record for a losing streak. They have lost 21 away games in a row and are rooted to the bottom of the table.
Week in and week out, the Mariners’ performances have been less than impressive. They have been able to show glimpses of potential on occasion but glimpses will not win the team matches nor will it win them much praise.
While the Mariners do have one of the youngest and least experienced squads in the whole league, this seemingly never-ending run of unacceptable displays is not only hurting the club but its fans as well.
Central Coast are a small but proud club, with an excellent and successful history in the A-League. All clubs go through slumps and poor patches of results but the Mariners’ form suggests something massive needs to change at the club, and soon.
Best defence v worst defence
Heading into this match these teams had scored the same number of goals (11). However, when it came to goals conceded they were polar opposites. The Sky Blues had only let in nine goals this campaign – the best defensive record in the league. The Mariners, meanwhile, have conceded 24 – five more than the next worst in the Wellington Phoenix.
This match was a microcosm of these teams defensive efforts overall with Central Coast letting in another four, two via the penalty spot, and Sydney conceding a lone goal.
Exciting football for now?
The Sky Blues’ skipper got his side off to the perfect start when he tapped the ball into the back of the net in the opening two minutes of the match and it was Brosque again who doubled Sydney’s advantage from the penalty spot; Tavares gave them a third from the same spot five minutes later.
Three goals in a game for Sydney FC so far this season has been a rarity, with the club criticised heavily for playing boring, unentertaining and unexciting football with a distinct lack of goals.
Although they put four past the Mariners tonight, this is most likely more a reflection of the Central Coast defence than it is a change in the Sky Blues’ style of play.
Outside90 A-League Player of the Year Votes
3 – Brandon O’Neill
2 – Alex Brosque
1- Thomas Heward-Belle
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