Matt Simon scored a second-half brace off the bench in his return to Central Coast Stadium, helping Sydney FC secure a 3-1 win.
An action-packed first half saw Sydney FC take the lead in the 34th minute. Filip Holosko’s back heel found an oncoming Alex Brosque with the captain squaring it to Shane Smeltz; the Kiwi scoring his first for the season.
The Mariners replied instantaneously, with Fabio Ferreira bursting down the right flank, cutting it back to Roy O’Donovan who slotted it past Vedran Janjetovic.
Central Coast were then denied a penalty shout after Janjetovic appeared to collect O’Donovan in the box. The home side was then reduced to 10 men after Nick Fitzgerald received two yellows cards in as many minutes.
The Mariners were able to hold the Sky Blues at bay until former Mariner Matt Simon scored two in the final 10 minutes. Holosko set up the first, with Simon finishing coolly with his left foot before Mikael Tavares floated in a ball to meet the head of the 29-year-old.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the game.
#SaveTheNix @TheCove23 pic.twitter.com/41jeWSMLMO
— Yellow Fever (@YellowFever_NZ) October 31, 2015
miss of the year #ccmvsyd https://t.co/61R8Sn1jsT
— Chris Buchanan (@reddwarf40) October 31, 2015
Hey Arnie, CCM's wingers may not defend but Fabio Ferreira just tore your right side apart. #CCMvSYD
— Chris Hearn (@_ChrisHearn) October 31, 2015
https://twitter.com/LaurenceRosen/status/660350687390203904
Lunacy from Fitzgerald. Just been booked, and he's about two weeks late on that challenge #CCMvSYD
— Eamonn (@eamonnwarner) October 31, 2015
This fixture is almost always crazy. I do enjoy it. #CCMvSYD
— JTMahon (@mahonjt) October 31, 2015
"Your full backs are divers, full backs are diversssss!" #CCMvSYD
— Jon Turner (@Jon_Turner13) October 31, 2015
Can someone tell the boys that you need to get the ball under the cross bar to score. Final ball woeful, a theme of this season #CCMvSYD
— Sam Spence (@samdspence) October 31, 2015
This game sums up the @ALeague perfectly #CCMvSYD
— Rob (@RobskiNew) October 31, 2015
Karma. (Tweet not directed at Mariners fans…) #CCMvSYD
— Adam Peacock (@adampeacock3) October 31, 2015
Why did they ever get rid of him?!!!! #SydneyIsSkyBlue #CCMvSYD
— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) October 31, 2015
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