Three goals in nine minutes as Mariners and Wanderers draw

Three goals in a dramatic nine minutes, including a penalty via VAR, lit up the clash between Western Sydney and Central Coast at Bankwest Stadium with the points shared in a thrilling draw.

Wanderers’ Bruce Kamau grabs the ball from the back of the net after scoring one of his two goals against Central Coast at Bankwest Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

Three goals in a dramatic nine minutes of pulsating A-League football including a penalty via VAR has lit up the clash between Western Sydney and Central Coast at Bankwest Stadium with the points shared in a thrilling 2-2 draw.

The late equaliser from the penalty spot via Mariners captain Oli Bozanic once again underlined their remarkable fighting spirit as they extended their lead at the top of the table to three points in a fairytale season that shows no sign of abating.

Trailing 1-0 at the break, the Wanderers’ resurgence came through substitute Bruce Kamau who was introduced after the hour mark to provide some spark by coach Carl Robinson and did just that with two goals in the space of four minutes to give Western Sydney the lead before the Mariners struck back.

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The come-from-behind point was a critical one for a Wanderers side that may just be peaking over their shoulder from inside the top six as several sides start to make up some ground on their finals spot.

It didn’t cool Robinson’s frustration at the late penalty awarded to Central Coast, however.

“I’ve watched it with my chairman and CEO nine times and I can’t tell you if it’s a penalty or not. I keep getting told ‘clear’ and ‘obvious’ are the two brilliant words people like to use. I think he’s got it wrong,” Robinson said.

Mariners captain Oliver Bozanic after scoring the equalising goal from the penalty spot. Picture: Getty Images

The Mariners’ opener came in the 22nd minute and was a goal of the highest quality.

Costa Rican international Marco Urena, who is looming as one of the signings of the season, broke through from midfield and at nearly full pace played a perfectly timed through ball with his left foot into the path of Matt Simon.

The Mariners talisman, who didn’t have to break stride, neatly clipped it over the outrushing Daniel Margush and into the Western Sydney net for his seventh strike of the season.

Western Sydney’s equaliser was a slick team goal that came courtesy of three one-touch passes including a Thomas Aquilina cross into the on-running Kamau who tapped it home with ease.

Kamau’s second just moments later was a wonderful individual effort as he picked up the ball in the centre circle and drove forward before shooting from distance and finding the bottom corner of Mark Birighitti’s net.

Western Sydney’s celebrations lasted less than five minutes however when Keanu Baccus caught Alou Kuol instead of the ball with his attempted clearance inside the area leading to a VAR-assisted penalty that was duly converted by Bozanic for the equaliser.

The late drama came at a price for Western Sydney assistant coach Kenny Miller who protested furiously at a late penalty shout on Kamau in stoppage time, incurring a red card. He’ll now be banned from the dugout for the Wanderers next game against Adelaide on Saturday night.

Reports suggest a move to Germany with Stuttgart is all but done for dynamic Mariners forward Kuol but his form shows no sign of waning amid those links as he energised his side off the bench yet again and won the penalty for the equaliser.

Bernie Ibini moved to Western Sydney in the off-season amid much hype and was linked with a Socceroos spot in recent weeks but he failed to threaten at all in his 70 minutes on the pitch in this one and has only scored once in his last 11 games.