A-League: Central Coast Mariners finally right ship against a stuttering Adelaide United outfit
It’s taken almost three years but Adelaide United’s reign over Central Coast Mariners at Gosford has been cracked with a sensational goal from Serbian star Milan Duric setting up the win.
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Adelaide United’s stuttered to a 2-1 loss to Central Coast Mariners despite a man of the match performance from off contract Ben Halloran.
Adelaide was caught off guard from the off when the hosts peppered the Reds with a game plan which throttled the normally offensive Reds outfit.
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First half goals from Kye Rowles and Milan Duric handed Mariners its first win over the Reds at Central Coast Stadium in seven starts from February 2017.
Halloran’s goal was one certain to attract goal of the week contention.
SHORE UP THE KEEPERS
As rival clubs lurk for some of Adelaide’s 12 off contract players Halloran proved he is a must have for coach Gertjan Verbeek’s second season in charge.
The winger scored a super second half goal and despite the Reds initiating talks to keep the Queenslander they have a massive fight on their hands.
Captain Michael Jakobsen’s unsure future — he is also off contract — is an unwanted quandary at this critical stage of the season when the Reds could lose a plethora of key U-23s to Olympic qualifying duty next month.
REDS SET PIECE SLUMBER
Central Coast scored two first half goals when many Reds refused or wouldn’t take responsibility when a second ball was there to be won.
Rowles put the home side ahead with a shot on the turn unmarked after the Reds were caught ball watching as a cross to the far post was partly cleared by a Michael Marrone header.
Rowles made the most of the inattention to stun the visitors.
Three minutes before the break Duric made it 2-0 when again Adelaide failed to take care of the second ball after a free kick.
When Daniel De Silva was fouled after doing a number on Michael Maria, United had the numbers inside the box but not the street smarts.
Maria was booked before the free kick bounced outside the box and as two Reds players parted instead of closing down the threat with the ball, Duric fired a 25m rocket into the bottom of the net.
REDS TACTICAL NIGHTMARE
Mariners boss Alen Stajcic ensured that pushing full backs Tommy Oar and Lewis Miller high seemingly threw the Reds game plan out of whack.
Adelaide’s wingers Halloran and Nikola Mileusnic were at many times during the first half stranded as the Mariners double teamed Ryan Strain and Maria in a forced press.
However the Mariners weren’t compact in defending and Adelaide did have enough first half chances to make a difference as the gaps between the lines became apparent in transition for the home side.
MARINERS TURN TO SLEEP
Just seconds after Stajcic warned Fox Sports his side needed to be on red alert Halloran cracked the Mariners with a super goal just 43 seconds inside the second half.
Halloran latched onto a wide pass from Nathan Konstandopoulos touched the ball inside before curling a left footed 20m shot past lunging ex Adelaide gloveman Mark Birighitti as Verbeek rang in the changes at the break.
Marrone was hooked for centre back Jordan Elsey as the Reds full backs sat a little deeper in a bid to quell the Mariners wide double teaming.
No more than 10 minutes later Verbeek showed how ruthless he can be.
He hooked Maria seconds after a potential goal saving tackle.
The Curacao international frustrated his boss in the first half and then a second half tackle which could have earned him a second caution gave him an early shower anyway.
James Troisi was then hooked in the 64th minute as United looked towards two 18-year-olds Louis D’Arrigo and Lachlan Brook to win the game from midfield.
Troisi’s absence was immediately felt.
The Reds lost a creator and an experienced head to control the tempo of the game.
As the clash became reliant on transition when both sides couldn’t keep their feet on the ball Mariners prevailed to seal the points in a massive upset.
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CENTRAL COAST 2 (Kye Rowles 4m, Milan Duric 42m)
ADELAIDE UNITED 1 (Ben Halloran 46m) at Central Coast Stadium
Mariners (4-2-3-1): Birighitti, Miller (Fox 72m), Gordon, Rowles; Kim, Stessness; Murray; Duric (Silvera 69m), De Silva; Jair (Simon 84m)
Adelaide (4-3-3): Richards; Strain, Marrone (Elsey 46m), Jakobsen, Maria (Kitto 55m); D’Arrigo, Troisi (Brook 64m), Konstandopoulos; Halloran Toure, Mileusnic
Referee: Adam Fielding
Yellow cards: Adelaide: Maria. Mariners: Miller, Gordon, Murray
Red cards: None