A-League: Western Sydney Wanderers captain Mitchell Duke makes two goals, giving a 2-1 win over Central Coast Mariners

Wanderers captain Mitchell Duke’s double score has earned a 2-1 opening-round win over the Mariners.

Mitchell Duke of the Western Sydney Wanderers celebrates scoring one of his two goals with teammates during the round-one A-League match won 2-1 against the Central Coast Mariners at Bankwest Stadium on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

Wanderers captain Mitchell Duke’s double score has earned Western Sydney a 2-1 opening-round A-League home victory over Central Coast Mariners, with the winner coming from a penalty after VAR intervention.

About four minutes elapsed from the time of the incident on Saturday evening in Sydney before Duke blasted home the spot-kick.

Mitchell Duke of the Wanderers passes the ball during the round-one match. Picture: Getty Images

Highly regarded Iranian referee Alireza Faghani, officiating his first A-League game since moving to Australia, awarded the penalty for a Dylan Fox hand ball, after reviewing the incident following a break in play.

Duke headed a 41st-minute equaliser from a Pirmin Schwegler corner, five minutes after Mariners A-League debutant Milan Duric gave the visitors the lead with a fierce, deflected 20m drive.

Milan Duric (No 7) from the Central Coast Mariners kicks his goal during the Round 1 A-League match against the Western Sydney Wanderers at Bankwest. Picture: AAP

Milan Duric, right, after kicking his goal. Picture: AAP

The Mariners came desperately close to salvaging a point at the death, but Swiss goalkeeper Daniel Lopar made a double save to preserve the Wanderers’ lead.

Western Sydney had more chances through the game, but the Mariners always looked threatening on the counter and also had other opportunities to score.

A crowd of 17,091 attended the Wanderers’ first A-League game in more than three years at their rebuilt Bankwest Stadium.

AAP