The Central Coast Mariners and Wellington Phoenix meet in Gosford on Sunday looking for a win to reinvigorate their respective campaigns.
Recent weeks have seen both clubs enter the media spotlight for the wrong reason. The Mariners are currently in a stand-off with first-choice goalkeeper Liam Reddy following a disciplinary dispute, with Paul Izzo set to deputise for the third week in a row against the Phoenix.
Ernie Merrick’s side have been the eminent story in the football media for the last couple of weeks following the announcement that the club would not be given a ten-year extension to their current A-League licence.
Not only have things been tumultuous off the field, but both sides suffered losses last week that would have left a foul taste in the mouths of supporters. The Mariners suffered a 3-1 defeat at home to Sydney FC, undone by two goals from Matt Simon, the club’s all-time leading goalscorer who was released at the end of last season. Wellington were also terrorised by a former player, as Kosta Barbarousses and his Melbourne Victory teammates orchestrated a clinical 3-0 win at Etihad Stadium on Monday evening.
Both sides need a win, but who will come out on top?
Key Battle – Roy Krishna vs Jake McGing
Krishna has taken the role of main striker following the move of Nathan Burns during the off-season. While the Fijian international has struggled a little under the additional pressure, he has still found the net twice in four matches this season. The 28-year-old enjoyed a breakout year in the competition last season with nine goals from the left flank, but this is the season that Krishna can truly cement himself as one of the league’s better strikers. A goal against the Mariners on Sunday would be a great way to continue on that path.
The task of stopping Krishna will fall to Jake McGing, who has been impressive in central defence during his debut A-League season. Despite conceding three goals last week against Sydney FC, McGing was immense, often positioning himself perfectly to clear danger from the Mariners’ penalty area. McGing also plays a key role in his side’s attacking game, using his surprisingly good passing range to start play from the back, with the ability to go short or long with a killer pass to the strikers.
Team News
The only big change in the Mariners’ squad is the omission of Nick Fitzgerald, who will miss this week due to his red card against Sydney FC last week. Mitch Austin will likely come back into the starting eleven following Fitzgerald’s absence, with Liam Rose set to retain his position in central midfield beside Nick Montgomery.
The Phoenix have lost a key man in the form of Vince Lia, who suffered a hamstring injury against the Victory on Monday. ‘Vinniesta’ is set to miss 6-8 weeks of action, giving Alex Rodriguez a chance to prove himself in the starting lineup.
Head-to-head
Central Coast possess a fairly good record over the Phoenix, with 11 wins from 24 matches, losing eight times and drawing five. However, the Phoenix took seven points from nine last season against the Mariners, suggesting that the balance between these two teams has shifted across the Tasman Sea.
Previous Meeting
Wellington Phoenix 3 Central Coast Mariners 2, Westpac Stadium, April 17, 2015.
It was a shocking start to the match for the Phoenix, going down two goals after just 35 minutes thanks to goals from Nick Fitzgerald and Eddy Bosnar. However, the home side eventually woke up to themselves and came roaring back in the second half to steal the points. Roly Bonevacia got the comeback started in the 65th minute, before a double to substitute Kenny Cunningham (including a 90th minute winner) created a stunning turnaround.
Prediction
In every match played by the Mariners this season, both teams have scored at least once. That trend will no doubt continue this Sunday, but the final result is harder to pick. The Phoenix will surely be keen to bounce back from their big loss against the Victory, but the Mariners looked capable of matching Sydney FC last week before Nick Fitzgerald’s red card. The points will likely be shared in Gosford this week.
Central Coast Mariners 1 Wellington Phoenix 1
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