Central Coast Mariners break Sydney drought

Alen Stajcic has praised the courage of his Central Coast Mariners side as they ended a near seven-year drought to beat defending champions Sydney FC on their home turf.

Central Coast’s Daniel Bouman puts in the cross which was defelcted into the Sydney FC net by Sky Blues defender Ben Warland. Picture:Getty Images.

Alen Stajcic has praised the courage of his Central Coast Mariners side as they ended a near seven-year drought to beat defending champions Sydney FC on their home turf.

An own goal to Ben Warland and a deflected strike from Alou Kuol gave the Mariners their first win over the Sky Blues since March 2014.

“It’s a bit early to worry about the table, but what I am pleased about is the performances in every game,” Stajcic said.

“I think we’ve shown different qualities in every game, but the courage tonight was by far the best I’ve seen from a Mariners side in a long time.

“I can see a little bit of belief and confidence growing.

“We were a bit lucky with a couple of deflected goals, but just the work rate from the team is incredible.”

While there may have been a touch of luck about both goals, the 2-0 result was no less than the Mariners deserved. It also means Stajcic’s side have conceded just one goal in four games this season.

The Sky Blues had been looking to ignite their season at Kogarah’s Jubilee Stadium and had the chances to do so. But, just like against the Western Sydney Wanderers a week ago, the home side squandered too many of them.

And in the end, it cost them as the Mariners claimed a famous win.

The Central Coast side went ahead in the 53rd minute when Warland steered Daniel Bouman’s cross into his own net, then doubled their lead in the 74th after Kuol’s right-footed shot took a deflection off Sky Blues skipper Alex Wilkinson.

Sydney had enough time to respond, but couldn’t despite Steve Corica bringing on the reinforcements.

The Sky Blues would have been wondering how they went into the break without a goal.

Kosta Barbarouses had an opportunity to put his side ahead as early as the second minute, but he missed the biggest chance to do that on the half hour mark.

Trent Buhagiar’s cross was deflected to Joel King who passed the ball to Barbarouses, but the Kiwi fired his shot wide.

While Sydney just shaded the first half, that’s not giving enough credit to the Mariners, who again made it difficult for their opponents.

Their steely defence continued to prove tough to break down, while there were plenty of threats going forward, particularly through Daniel De Silva.

That continued into the second half. Minutes after Buhagiar had a goal chalked off for offside, the Mariners caught Sydney out.

A super ball from Bouman, whipped in from the left, was met by Warland who could only steer the ball into the back of his own net.

The 53rd minute goal was well deserved too, and had been coming; moments before it Sydney’s defence was left scrambling to clear Oliver Bozanic’s shot. The resurgent Mariners went on to wrap up a famous win through Kuol with just over 15 minutes remaining.

NCA Newswire