Luis Garcia’s A-League debut ruined by late Brendon Santalab goal as Wanderers beat Mariners 2-1

LUIS Garcia’s A-League welcome party was spoiled by a late Brendon Santalab goal as the Western Sydney Wanderers grabbed top spot on the ladder in Gosford.

GOSFORD, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 23: Brendon Santalab of the Wanderers celebrates his goal during the round 16 A-League match between the Central Coast Mariners and the Western Sydney Wanderers at Central Coast Stadium on January 23, 2016 in Gosford, Australia. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)

LIVERPOOL legend Luis Garcia’s A-League welcome party was spoiled by a late Brendon Santalab goal as the Western Sydney Wanderers grabbed top spot on the ladder in Gosford.

Thrown into the game after 57 minutes by Central Coast coach Tony Walmsley, Garcia provided the spark as the Mariners recovered from a one-goal deficit at halftime to level things up only for substitute Santalab to break the hearts of Mariners fans late to give his side a 2-1 win..

The sending off of Mariners captain Nick Montgomery in the 79th minute for a crude studs up challenge on Golgol Mebrahtu proved a turning point with Wanderers grabbing back the momentum following his straight red.

And it was a defensive error, one of several the Mariners were guilty of on the night, which proved costly in the end.

Luis Garcia is too skilful for Mitch Nichols.

The big positive for the home side was Garcia’s contribution. On the field for less than 10 minutes, Garcia supplied a sublime ball for teammate Mitchell Austin that led to Fabio Ferreira’s second half equaliser. The Mariners were under siege early with the Wanderers turning the screws seemingly from the opening whistle.

But for all their dominance in the opening half, Western Sydney still only had a 1-0 lead at the break to show for it. The combination of Castelen and Bridge caused the youthful Mariners defence plenty of headaches and it was the Dutchman who had the first real opportunity after 10 minutes. He should have done far better with his header from a Scott Jameson cross.

But the let-off proved short-lived. Under pressure from Mitch Nichols in possession, it was an horrendous mistake from Mariners defender Storm Roux just a minute later that gifted Wanderers the opening game.

Bridge, playing his 100th game for the club, pounced on a loose square ball from Roux and calmly slotted past Paul Izzo to put his side a goal up after 11 minutes.

Brendon Santalab (L) celebrates his late winner.

Dario Vidosic went agonisingly close to making it 2-0 not long after but his angled header found the post with Izzo well beaten and the Mariners managed to scramble the ball to safety. Jameson, getting forward down the left flank at every opportunity, was also a constant threat.

Mariners defender Harry Ascroft managed to snuff out one such opportunity, thwarting what would have been a simple tap-in for Bridge

Positive moments were few and far between for the hosts in the opening half

The second half, though, was a far different story.

Seemingly buoyed by the Wanderers failure to put them to the sword in the first half, the Mariners started to get some traction in the game and all of a sudden, it was the visitors who found themselves under pressure.

That only appeared to escalate when Garcia entered the fray after 57 minutes.

Garcia’s beautifully weighted pass for Austin led to Ferreira’s equaliser but Nick Montgomery’s 79th minute send off tempered the Mariners momentum.

Originally published as Luis Garcia’s A-League debut ruined by late Brendon Santalab goal as Wanderers beat Mariners 2-1