Wasteful Sydney FC forced to settle for a draw against Mariners

Sydney FC are slowly fading away in the race for the premier’s plate after being forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with last-placed Central Coast.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 17: Adam le Fondre of Sydney FC competes for the ball against Sam Graham of the Mariners during the round 19 A-League match between Sydney FC and the Central Coast Mariners at Leichhardt Oval on February 17, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

The last time Central Coast beat Sydney FC, Paul Okon unashamedly belted out Daryl Braithwaite’s Horses in the Gosford changerooms.

If it wasn’t for Adam Le Fondre’s saving-grace penalty 15 months later at a bustling Leichhardt Oval, the A-League’s perennial cellar dwellers would again have had cause to celebrate.

Maybe blame Sunday afternoon’s sapping heat, but the Sky Blues visibly cracked against their nemesis team, melting into a pot of uninspired routine that, for the second week running, was bereft of the attacking accuracy for which they are so well known.

Adam le Fondre of Sydney FC competes for the ball against Sam Graham of the Mariners. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

The 1-1 draw, hot on the heels of last weekend’s upset loss to second-last Brisbane, blew a golden chance to sweep into second ahead of Melbourne Victory.

Instead Steve Corica’s men remain third, 10 points adrift of leaders Perth Glory.

“I was happy with the performance, it was very good,” Corica said.

“We dominated from the start, we had chances. The only disappointment is we didn’t score more goals because first half they had one chance and scored against the run of play.”

The Mariners, while far from dominant with less than a third of possession and five shots to Sydney’s 21, were improved on last week’s insipid capitulation to Western Sydney and inch within five of the Roar, who they host next.

Tommy Oar of the Mariners leaves the field with an injury. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

They’ll have to do so with Tommy Oar, whose injury-disrupted season continued in his first start back, one that was over within 15 minutes after the former Socceroo sickeningly hyper-extended of his knee.

“We think the knee is intact ... he can’t buy a trick since he’s joined us,” Mulvey said.

“When you look at the history of our season so far that’s a pretty significant result against significant odds. Sydney threw everything at us basically.”

There was scarcely time for either team to put down a marker before Oar was felled following a challenge with Alex Wilkinson, and the speed with which Sydney’s captain motioned for medics betrayed the severe pain the 27-year-old was clearly suffering.

As Matt Millar prepared for a premature introduction off the bench, the Sky Blues set about engineering promising openings.

Rhyan Grant crossed for Brandon O’Neill, who forced a reflex save from Ben Kennedy, before Milos Ninkovic violently struck the upright and then walloped the rebound out of play before Josh Brillante had a go too.

Adam le Fondre of Sydney scores during the Round 19 A-League match between Sydney FC and the Central Coast Mariners. Picture: AAP Image/Craig Golding

The Mariners, meanwhile, toiled under the sun but struggled to fashion any meaningful front-third movement.

Nevertheless, time and again Mike Mulvey’s last-placed men defended with grit or had their goalkeeper to thank for not ceding the lead.

By the 35th minutes the hosts had fashioned 10 shots to three, and they were soon made to pay for the profligacy.

In the 36th Andrew Hoole lashed in a corner and when Matt Simon miskicked the ball fizzed backward and fell to Aiden O’Neill, who took it first time and directed it meticulously - with a little spin - into the bottom corner for his third goal of the season.

Brandon O'Neill of Sydney heads the ball during the Round 19 A-League match between Sydney FC and the Central Coast Mariners. Picture: AAP Image/Craig Golding

The moment was undeniably against the run of play but it was also the third time this season the Mariners have taken the lead against their rivals from down the F3.

Funnily enough, overall they’d also wasted seven of their previous eight halftime leads. Here, at least for a time, it threatened to pan out differently.

Sitting deep, they practically invited pressure but were resolute in halting the flow of Sydney attack’s, and Corica searched for a spark via the introduction of Alex Brosque at the expense of Reza Ghoochannejhad and youngster Luke Ivanovic for Caceres.

It made little difference until Brosque drew a penalty from Jem Karacan.

Referee Jarred Gillett, in his final match before departing for England, blew his whistle and pointed to the spot, where golden-boot leader Le Fondre had no problem burying his 13th goal of the season.

It might have been 14 had the Englishman not inexplicably skied a subsequent shot in front of a beckoning goal, a misfortune repeated by Brosque and followed by what seemed myriad more at the death.

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